Interview with George Ankomah, Partner, Tax & Regulatory Services, Deloitte Africa (Ghana)

1. What is the most significant change to your region/jurisdiction’s tax legislation or regulations in the past 12 months?

Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms:

The most significant change is the reform of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Legislation through the enactment of a new VAT Act, 2025 (Act 1151), which came into force on 1 January 2026.  

Notable changes include the following:

  • Effective VAT rate reduced from 21.9% to 20%, following the abolition of the COVID‑19 Levy.
  • National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) and Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy (GETFund) levies are now fully creditable as input tax.
  • Abolishment of the 3% and 5% flat‑rate VAT regimes, replaced with a unified 15% standard VAT rate.
  • VAT registration threshold for goods increased to GHS750,000 from GHS200,000, while services now require registration within 30 days, regardless of turnover.
  • Unregistered importers are required to pay VAT at a rate of 20% of the customs value upfront at the point of importation.

Income tax

Significant changes include the following:

  • Electronic Transfer Levy (Act 1128) fully repealed from 2 April 2025.
  • The 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold from small‑scale miners was abolished in April 2025.
  • The Growth and Sustainability Levy (GSL) was extended to 2028, with the mining sector rate reduced to 1% from 3% of gross production.

Operationalization of the Independent Tax Appeals Board (ITAB)

  • The Independent Tax Appeals Board was operationalized on 1 January 2026 following the passage of its enabling legislation in November 2025. This gives taxpayers the opportunity to appeal against tax decisions by the Commissioners General. 

2. What has been the most significant impact of that change?

VAT reforms  

The reforms have resulted in a reduced effective consumption tax burden and simplified VAT compliance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Businesses benefit from full input VAT recoverability, while small businesses below the revised threshold are now excluded from the VAT regime, alleviating administrative and cash-flow pressures.

Operationalization of ITAB

The operationalization of the Independent Tax Appeals Board (ITAB) has boosted taxpayer confidence in the dispute resolution process. Clarifying ITAB’s mandate and separating it from revenue authorities is expected to improve fairness and certainty, reduce delays, and enhance transparency. This provides a fairer and more reliable mechanism for resolving tax disputes.

3. How do you anticipate that change impacting your work and the market moving forwards?

VAT reforms  

Going forward, the reforms are expected to stimulate demand for tax advisory services, particularly in the areas of VAT optimization, system reconfiguration, and compliance assurance. The market will increasingly require support with VAT restructuring, pricing models, and digital compliance readiness.

Operationalization of ITAB

The operationalization of ITAB will enhance the integrity and efficiency of tax dispute resolution, instilling greater confidence in clients to challenge assessments, where necessary. This reform provides increased assurance when advising clients, as improved fairness and transparency support consistent, reliable case handling. It streamlines our processes and strengthens trust in the tax system.

4. How has this changed the way you offer tax advice?

VAT reforms  

The reforms have changed our tax advisory approach by making it more forward‑looking and implementation‑focused. We now place greater emphasis on reassessing clients’ VAT registration status, reviewing transaction flows, and ensuring systems and pricing models are aligned with the unified standard rate and revised thresholds. Advisory work increasingly focuses on optimizing input VAT recoverability, managing cash‑flow impacts, particularly for importers, and supporting clients with compliance transition under the reformed VAT framework.

Operationalization of ITAB

This has reshaped our tax audit support services, enabling us to advise clients with greater confidence when challenging assessments. This has made taxpayers more willing to challenge the tax authority during audits to seek clarity on the application and interpretation of the law. As a result, we are better positioned to manage tax controversies more efficiently and provide advice aligned with the improved trust and reliability of the tax system.

5. What potential other legislative/regulatory changes are on the horizon that you think will have a big impact on your region/jurisdiction?

Income Tax Act review

A comprehensive overhaul of the domestic income tax, customs, and excise duty legislations is underway to align with global developments. 

6. What are the potential outcomes that might occur if those changes are implemented?

Income Tax Act review:  

The proposed review and consolidation of the Income Tax Act is to overhaul the regime to keep pace with global tax developments and the digital transformation of the economy. Key changes and anticipated effects include:

  • Consolidation and simplification: Streamlining the law to reduce ambiguity, administrative burdens, and interpretive disputes for both taxpayers and the revenue authority.
  • Alignment with global standards: Incorporating developments such as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/G20 global minimum tax framework to protect the tax base within the country better; and
  • Digital economy taxation: Enabling effective taxation of non-resident entities with significant digital or economic presence in Ghana.

Customs Regime Reform:

The proposed review and consolidation of the Customs Act is expected to modernize Ghana’s customs regime by aligning it with international standards in trade facilitation, digitalization, and border efficiency. The key changes and anticipated effects include:

  • Alignment with international best practices: Guided by the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and World Customs Organization standards to promote electronic processing and risk‑based inspections;
  • Simplification of border procedures: Leading to reduced clearance times and lower compliance costs for businesses; and
  • Consolidation of amendments and subsidiary legislation: Creating a single, coherent, clearer, and easier‑to‑implement legal framework that supports efficient customs administration.

Review and consolidation of the Excise Duty Act:

The proposed review and consolidation of the Excise Duty Act is intended to reposition excise taxation as a broader policy instrument that supports public health, environmental sustainability, and responsible consumption rather than a fiscal tool. The key changes and anticipated effects include:

  • Alignment with global trends and frameworks: Align with World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement principles, by expanding excise coverage to products such as plastics, sugary beverages, and carbon‑intensive goods;
  • Broadening of the excise tax base and harmonization of rates: Broaden the tax base and harmonize the tax rates to discourage harmful or environmentally damaging consumption; and
  • Simplification and modernization of excise administration: Improve compliance and reduce excise duty administration and complexity for businesses.

7. Do you think that change will have a positive effect on both your practice and the wider regional/jurisdictional market?

The proposed changes are anticipated to benefit both the tax practice and the broader Ghanaian and regional market. The review of the Income Tax, Customs, and Excise Duty Acts will create a clearer and more coherent legal and regulatory framework, reducing uncertainty and interpretive disputes. This shift will allow tax advisory services to focus on strategic planning, risk management, and value creation, rather than navigating fragmented legislation.

Alignment with global standards, including BEPS, the OECD/G20 frameworks, WTO trade facilitation principles, and WHO and climate-related excise policies, will enhance the credibility and predictability of Ghana’s tax and regulatory system. This development will support a broader interpretation of tax laws, facilitate the provision of advice to multinational clients, and support cross-border transactions.

For the wider market, these reforms are expected to improve compliance, lower administrative and transaction costs, and strengthen investor confidence by promoting fairness, transparency, and efficiency. In the medium to long term, the proposed reforms will foster a more tax-competitive trade environment and encourage responsible consumption patterns, positioning Ghana as a more attractive and stable jurisdiction within the West African and broader regional economy.

8. Are there any regulatory/legislative changes you believe should be implemented in your region/jurisdiction?

Taxation of the digital economy

The digitalization of Ghana’s economy has outpaced existing tax frameworks, creating gaps in the effective taxation of digital transactions and non-resident entities with significant economic presence. To address this, legislative reforms should:

  • Introduce clear definitions and nexus rules: Establish clear criteria for determining the taxable presence of non-resident digital businesses, such as digital platforms, e-commerce providers, and online service companies. This would align Ghana’s tax regime with international best practice, including OECD guidelines on significant economic presence; and
  • Strengthen reporting and compliance mechanisms: Mandate robust reporting requirements for digital transactions, including third-party payment platforms and online marketplaces, to improve transparency and revenue mobilization.

9. How do you believe those changes would help improve the tax landscape in your market?

Targeted reforms in the taxation of the digital economy would improve Ghana’s tax landscape. Introducing clear rules for taxing digital transactions and non-resident digital service providers would broaden the tax base, ensuring revenue is captured from rapidly expanding digital activities. This approach would promote fairness by leveling the playing field between traditional and digital businesses, both domestic and foreign.

Enhanced compliance and transparency measures, such as reporting requirements, the use of technology for monitoring, and partnerships with other competent authorities, would reduce opportunities for tax avoidance and strengthen revenue mobilization. Aligning Ghana’s digital tax framework with international standards, including those recommended by the OECD, would further improve the country’s credibility and facilitate cross-border cooperation.

10. What sort of issues surrounding the implementation of AI have you seen, and how will AI implementation likely affect your work?

The Ghana Revenue Authority has recently implemented AI in its customs processes. This system, known as Publican AI, was introduced in March 2026. According to the tax authority, this is expected to significantly enhance the processes, improve revenue assurance, and reduce abuse of the system. 

11. How would you describe the tax authorities’ approach in your region/jurisdiction?

The Ghana Revenue Authority’s approach in recent times has become increasingly data-driven and enforcement-focused, with a strong emphasis on audit. While engagement with taxpayers has improved, the authority continues to prioritize voluntary compliance through taxpayer education, alongside revenue assurance measures such as the introduction of the electronic invoicing regime.

 

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