adverts
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has broken its silence over a heated public row with the National Identification Authority (NIA), disputing claims that it owes the NIA GH¢376.7 million and clarifying the circumstances that led to its disconnection from the NIA’s Identity Verification System Platform (IVSP).
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, the GRA said it was “greatly surprised” by the NIA’s public assertions and described the alleged debt as a “legacy matter” tied to transactions before 2025 — transactions which, it insists, had no regulatory or governance approvals.
“From the GRA’s present assessment, there were no regulatory and governance approvals for the transaction that created the purported debt,” the statement read. “Our principles of transparency, compliance, and governance do not permit enforcement of transactions that do not meet regulatory requirements, particularly as demanded by the reset vision of the President and Government.”
adverts
The tax authority also pointed out that, under existing arrangements, the NIA has operated registration desks at GRA premises nationwide for years, issuing Ghana Cards without paying rent or utilities.
While acknowledging the importance of inter-agency collaboration, the GRA said high-level talks are underway to resolve the matter, especially in light of “procedural breaches” it claims to have identified. The agency also said it cannot confirm the existence of a formal service agreement between the two institutions for the disputed transactions.
“GRA extends collaborative hands to NIA while emphasising the need to improve our cordial relationship and resolve matters amicably,” the statement added.
The NIA had earlier announced the suspension of GRA’s IVSP access, effective Friday, August 1, 2025, describing the move as a “last resort” after months of reminders, warnings, and final notices went unanswered.
In a July 29 letter signed by Acting Executive Secretary Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, the NIA accused GRA of ignoring a final demand on April 29 and a follow-up warning on July 15.
“GRA’s persistent failure to honour its obligations is seriously crippling the operations of the NIA, threatening the sustainability of the National Identification System upon which GRA and many others depend,” Mr Deku stated.
The suspension could disrupt tax identification, compliance monitoring, and service authentication processes across multiple agencies that rely on the IVSP for identity verification.
Security analysts warn that the fallout from this standoff could have ripple effects on Ghana’s broader e-governance systems if left unresolved.
Despite the sharp public exchange, both agencies have signalled willingness to work toward a settlement.
The GRA has assured the public that it remains committed to its values of “fairness, integrity, responsiveness, service, and teamwork” as discussions continue.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or Email: manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
