Women in Taxation call for human-centered approach to informal sector compliance

The Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) has called for a more human-centred approach to tax administration in Ghana, stressing that education, empathy, and empowerment are as vital as technology in boosting compliance within the informal sector.

Speaking at the 3rd SWIT Conference in Accra on August 19, Chairperson of the group, Esi Sam, said women remain at the heart of the informal economy and must be placed at the forefront of national strategies to unlock its revenue potential.

“This year’s theme speaks to the national imperative of unlocking the informal sector through technology,” Madam Sam said.

“But equally important is the sub-theme, which reminds us that empowered women are true agents of sustainable change. By embracing self-love and self-care, we nurture not just our personal wellbeing, but also the strength and clarity to lead effectively,” she added.

She explained that taxation cannot be reduced to numbers and systems alone, adding that the human face professionals attach to it is also important.

“If you engage traders respectfully, they are more willing to comply than when you approach them with a straight face.”

“We know the hurdles taxpayers face, from lack of information to limited understanding of technology. That is why our role is not only to administer the system but to humanise it,” Madam Sam said.

Madam Sam stressed that women often carry multiple roles in households—as mothers, sisters, and breadwinners—which uniquely positions them to influence broader compliance.

According to her, they face emotional, financial, and technological barriers, notwithstanding their critical role.

“Our emotions should not affect our work, but we must also take care of ourselves. A confident and resilient woman is better equipped to educate and support others,” she urged.

She further encouraged members of SWIT to build their capacity through conferences and professional training so they can, in turn, educate market women, artisans, and small-scale entrepreneurs about their obligations.

Her remarks resonated with the conference’s broader discussions, where Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, outlined the authority’s six-pillar digital reform agenda aimed at narrowing the compliance gap.

In a later interview, Mrs Appau-Klu revealed that the GRA was prioritising plain-language tax education in both English and local languages. “The aim is for a woman selling in Makola or a table-top trader in a village to understand why taxes matter—that their payments support classrooms, roads, and clinics,” she said.

She added that the GRA would soon introduce a modified taxation system tailored to SMEs and informal businesses, recognising that many cannot afford accountants or lawyers.

“We are segmenting people based on capacity and location, applying a simple tax system that enables more people to come into the network,” she explained.

The conference, organised by SWIT, the female wing of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana (CITG), brought together tax practitioners, administrators, and policymakers.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Leveraging Technology to Unlock the Revenue Potential of the Informal Sector for National Development” with the sub-theme “Empowering Women through Self-Love and Self-Care for National Development.”

With the informal sector accounting for more than 80% of Ghana’s workforce, participants underscored that women, both as taxpayers and professionals, must play a central role in shaping the nation’s fiscal future.