Seth Terkper to Launch New Book on Ghana’s VAT Experience and Africa’s Tax Future
Former Finance Minister Seth Terkper is set to launch a new book titled “Value Added Tax in Africa: The Ghana Experience”, offering a deeply analytical and first-hand account of Ghana’s VAT trajectory and its implications for tax policy across the continent.
The book will be officially unveiled on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra. The event is expected to attract high-level participation from senior government officials, economists, tax experts, civil society leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.
Authored by Terkper — a key figure in Ghana’s public financial management reforms — the book chronicles the introduction, evolution, and institutional consolidation of the Value Added Tax system in Ghana. It further explores the political economy dynamics surrounding tax reform, the role of institutional resilience, and the critical importance of data-driven policy-making in developing economies.
“Value Added Tax in Africa: The Ghana Experience” goes beyond Ghana’s borders, offering comparative insights and lessons for African countries grappling with the dual challenge of improving tax compliance while fostering economic growth. The publication is positioned as both a historical reference and a policy toolkit at a time when domestic revenue mobilization has become central to Africa’s development agenda.
The launch will feature a keynote address by the author, followed by panel discussions involving prominent figures in fiscal policy, and a book signing session.
Terkper’s work is expected to contribute significantly to ongoing debates on tax justice, administrative capacity, and the future of VAT in Africa, particularly as economies strive for fiscal sustainability in the wake of global economic headwinds.
