BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a stern warning to members of the public against assaulting or obstructing its officers during tax enforcement operations, insisting that offenders will face the full force of the law.
The warning follows an alleged assault on GRA officers at Jamila Home, located at Westlands in Accra, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, during a Value Added Tax (VAT) compliance exercise.
The incident has prompted the Authority to reaffirm its commitment to protecting its personnel while carrying out their statutory responsibilities to ensure compliance with Ghana’s tax laws. Following the incident, the GRA invited a staff member of Jamila Home to assist with investigations into the alleged assault.
Speaking to the media after visiting the premises, Accra Central Area Enforcement Officer of the GRA, Joseph Annang, said the Authority would take the necessary steps to protect its officers and ensure that the law was upheld.
He explained that GRA officers conduct enforcement activities under the authority of the Commissioner-General and cautioned that any attempt to assault them would be treated as a serious matter.
“When we go out there, we go on the strength of the Commissioner General, so when you attack or assault any of our officers, you should know that you are attacking the Commissioner General and we will never sit aloof and allow this to happen,” Annang stated.
GRA draws line between taxpayer engagement and violence
Annang acknowledged that the Authority seeks to maintain a customer-friendly approach in its dealings with taxpayers but stressed that such an approach should not be mistaken for weakness or an unwillingness to enforce the law.
He said officers were expected to engage taxpayers professionally and respectfully during compliance exercises, adding that the Authority would not tolerate violence or deliberate obstruction of its operations.
“We will come at you with equal measure, so that should be a warning to the public. We say we are customer-centric. We try to be friendly to our taxpayers but when we come to you and you try to go against the law to the extent that you attack us, then obviously we will also come at you with the full force of the law,” he said.
