Oppong Nkrumah warns Mahama’s gov’t against scrapping taxes

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has warned the Mahama-led government, cautioning against the proposed scrapping of the E-Levy, Betting, and COVID-19 taxes.

In an interview on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Yen Bia’ morning show, the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP emphasized the potential dire consequences of such a move.

According to Oppong Nkrumah, “The NDC’s decision to scrap E-Levy, Betting, and COVID-19 Tax will come at a steep cost, totaling 22 billion Ghana cedis.”

He further noted that “this government has been in power for merely two months and has already borrowed a staggering 67 billion cedis. This is a clear indication that the state needs to employ innovative strategies to address the revenue shortfall, rather than resorting to populist measures.”

The Ghana Revenue Authority has reported significant revenue generated from the E-Levy since its introduction. Scrapping this tax, along with the Betting and COVID-19 taxes, could exacerbate the country’s revenue challenges, ultimately affecting the government’s ability to deliver essential services.

“The reality will eventually catch up with them if they proceed to remove these three taxes,” Oppong Nkrumah warned. His comments come at a time when the government is facing intense criticism for its handling of the economy.

In a related development, the minority in Parliament boycotted a three-day orientation workshop in Ho, citing concerns over the event’s cost and venue. Oppong Nkrumah described the event as lavish, saying, “One would expect a government lamenting about the country’s indebtedness to be modest in all their dealings.”

The Parliamentary Training Institute (PTI) organized the event, aimed at orienting new MPs. However, the minority’s absence raised questions about the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.