Ofoase Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has strongly disputed the government’s claim of offering significant tax relief in the 2025 Budget.
According to the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, only two out of six taxes announced for removal have been abolished—contrary to the finance minister’s claims.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah accused Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of misleading the public by exaggerating the extent of tax relief.
“The government says it has removed six taxes, but a close look at the budget appendices shows only two have been scrapped—the 1% Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) and the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold by small-scale miners,” he explained.
The six taxes listed by the finance minister are:
- 1% E-Levy
- 10% withholding tax on lottery winnings (betting tax)
- Emission levy on industrial vehicles
- VAT on motor vehicle insurance
- 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold
- 1% COVID-19 levy
However, Oppong Nkrumah insisted that the remaining four—the betting tax, emission levy, VAT on insurance, and COVID-19 levy—are still in effect, despite government claims.
“If you carefully examine the budget documents, it’s clear those taxes have not been removed. Ghanaians deserve honesty, not political spin,” he said.
He urged the finance minister to come clean and provide clarity on the actual tax relief measures.
“True relief must be reflected in real policy changes, not just words,” he added.
As Parliament prepares to debate the 2025 appropriation, the government’s tax relief claims are likely to face further scrutiny.