John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to eliminate all nuisance taxes within the first 120 days of his administration if elected in the upcoming December elections. Among the taxes to be scrapped are the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, emission levy, and import duties on vehicles and equipment for industrial and agricultural purposes.
Speaking at the launch of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto in Winneba, in the Central Region, Mr. Mahama said the manifesto is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving the well-being of Ghanaians. A key focus is the abolition of the contentious e-levy and a review of the betting winnings levy imposed by the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Mr. Mahama also announced plans to remove taxes on essential medical supplies, particularly for dialysis treatment. To further support this initiative, he proposed establishing a Cancer and Kidney Disease Trust Fund to assist Ghanaians needing financial aid for these critical treatments.
The NDC flag bearer assured that the government could sustain the abolition of these taxes without compromising national economic development. He outlined strategies for offsetting the revenue loss, including savings from a streamlined government, intensified anti-corruption efforts, accelerated development of new oil and gas projects, increased investments in the mining sector, and revitalizing the cocoa industry.
Additionally, Mr. Mahama promised to collaborate with non-banking financial institutions to provide importers with regulated loans to help them clear their containers on time. He also committed to ensuring that the extractive sector operates within a mutually beneficial tax framework, aiming to stabilise the exchange rate.
However, under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Ghana is required to maintain a sustainable budget deficit. Eliminating these taxes could challenge this requirement, necessitating alternative revenue sources or significant cuts in government spending, which may not align with IMF guidelines.
