The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has released its State of the Ghanaian Economy Report 2023 and Q3 2024 Review, highlighting technology as a crucial tool in addressing Ghana’s persistent tax revenue shortfall.

A recent pilot project in La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA) illustrates how digital solutions like the Enhanced Revenue Mobilisation System (ERMS) can revolutionise local tax collection, significantly boosting property rate income.

The findings reveal that MMDAs equipped with ERMS collected 103% more in property rates than assemblies without the technology, despite distributing only 27% more bills.

"The capacity to mobilise taxes is at the heart of nation-building," the ISSER report asserts, emphasizing that efficient tax collection remains a critical challenge in Ghana’s economic framework.

The ERMS tool integrates geospatial databases and real-time tracking, which, according to ISSER, “holds the promise to increase the capacity of MMDAs to mobilise more property rates,” potentially reducing the reliance on central government transfers and providing more financial autonomy to local authorities.

However, the report raises caution regarding unintended consequences, noting that some revenue collectors may have leveraged new information from the system to extract unofficial payments from lower-income property owners.

ISSER highlights the importance of effective oversight, stating, “An appropriately designed and deployed technology can significantly boost property rate collection…but management should pay particular attention to unintended outcomes to deter malfeasance.”

This underscores the need for robust controls and anti-corruption measures alongside the technological rollout to ensure equitable tax collection.

ISSER recommends that the government prioritise investments in digital infrastructure to enhance tax mobilisation while enforcing accountability.

"Effective management and transparency are essential to prevent misuse of IT systems and ensure a fair tax collection process," the report advises.

It added that integrating such systems across MMDAs could help stabilize Ghana’s economy by widening the tax base and reducing dependency on debt financing.

By advocating for value-for-money expenditures and technological advancements in tax collection, ISSER believes Ghana can lay a foundation for sustainable economic growth.