The Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has highlighted aspects of the national budget that he believed provided financial relief to citizens, particularly through adjustments in taxation.
Speaking on The Keypoints on March 15, Cudjoe pointed out that reductions in levies such as the E-Levy will increase disposable income for individuals and small business owners.
“If we are providing relief for taxes like the E-Levy… substantially, you’re putting some money back into people’s hands, more or less disposable income,” he said.
He said that these tax adjustments could positively impact small business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs who rely on small amounts of capital to sustain their businesses.
“If those women who probably require maybe 100 cedis or 200 cedis to start a little business… it would have seen some appreciable increase in savings because they don’t have to now expend so much whenever they transfer money,” he explained.
While acknowledging that tax relief alone is not a comprehensive solution, he argued that it forms part of a broader effort to ease financial burdens on Ghanaians.
Cudjoe stressed the need for a budget that prioritizes the real needs of citizens, especially in the wake of economic challenges.
“Where we are right now, with the challenges we’ve been through, I’ll be more interested in seeing a budget that addresses the larger problems of people, their needs, and maybe even their wants,” he noted.
Beyond tax cuts, he emphasized that national budgets must translate into tangible improvements in key areas such as healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation.
“What is the essence of the budget if it is not going to positively affect people’s livelihoods, from healthcare to education to tackling hardcore poverty?” he questioned.
The Founder of IMANI Africa remarks reinforce his belief that budgets should go beyond technical discussions and focus on policies that directly improve the lives of the most vulnerable citizens.
