Mahama Promises To Scrap E-levy, Other Taxes In First 100 Days

Former President and Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has announced a sweeping plan to eliminate the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy also known as E-levy and other taxes within his first 100 days if elected in the 2024 general election.

“We will scrap the following draconian taxes within our first 100 days in office to alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business: E-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, Emissions levy. I’ll scrap import duty on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes” Mr Mahama said at the launch of the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto in Winneba, Central Region, on Saturday, August 24.

He continued, “To further ease hardships, we will: Apply the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy on fuel to cushion consumers. Rationalise fees at our ports to reduce the burden on importers and Ghanaians. Undertake a comprehensive reform of Ghana’s VAT regime to provide relief for households and businesses. This will include reversing the decoupling of GETFund and NHIL from VAT, reversing the VAT flat rate regime, upwardly adjusting the VAT registration threshold to exempt micro and small businesses and repealing the law imposing VAT on domestic electricity consumption.”

In addition, he mentioned key public sector institutions that will participate in his party’s proposed 24-hour economy.

The institutions he mentioned include the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Passport Office, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.

“We will provide tax incentives to companies that will sign up and pay lower taxes so that they can reinvest what they have saved back into their operations”.

Not More Than 60 Ministers

The former President further reiterated his commitment to creating a lean yet effective government by limiting the number of ministers to 60.

“We will run the leanest but most efficient government under the Fourth Republic by appointing not more than 60 ministers and deputy ministers in our bid to cut down on government expenditure,” he explained.