President John Dramani Mahama has officially signed into law a series of legislative bills designed to eliminate several controversial taxes, including the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), Betting Tax, and Emissions Tax.
This landmark decision fulfills a key campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians. The abolition of these taxes comes after growing public dissatisfaction, with many citizens and businesses expressing concerns about the negative impact these levies were having on their daily lives and operations.
The E-Levy, introduced in 2022, was particularly contentious, as it placed a tax on mobile money transfers, a widely used method of payment in Ghana. The Betting Tax, targeting the gambling industry, was also met with resistance, while the Emissions Tax, aimed at addressing environmental concerns, faced criticism for its potential to hurt businesses in sectors reliant on emissions.
President Mahama’s move to scrap these taxes is seen as a significant step toward addressing the economic challenges facing Ghanaians, providing much-needed relief to individuals and businesses alike. The government, however, now faces the challenge of finding alternative sources of revenue to ensure the country’s development agenda continues on track.
