
The former president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has indicated that when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) comes back to power in 2025, the government will scrap the controversial E-Levy.
Mr Mahama believes the 1.5% tax, which was implemented on Sunday, 1 May 2022, will worsen the plight of Ghanaians, and the NDC will address that.
According to him, the government has failed to address the needs of Ghanaians and has added a tax burden in the face of a huge economic downturn.
“Unfortunately, in the face of this self-inflicted economic catastrophe, this government, against all sound advise, has decided to introduce the E-Levy that heaps more suffering on Ghanaians,” he said in an address themed ‘Ghana At A Crossroads’.
Mr Mahama stressed that “a new National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, God willing, with the votes of the sovereign people of Ghana, in 2025 will repeal the E-Levy act”.
He further explained that the NDC does not oppose taxation as a principle.
However, they will not be “pretentious and couch fanciful slogans to condemn the principle of taxation like the NPP did in the past”.
“We are, however, implacably opposed to distortionary and burdensome taxes like the e-levy that only force Ghanaians to endure more suffering,” he added.
The NDC has expressed strong views against the E-Levy since the government revealed its intentions to implement the policy to generate funds.
Former President Mahama’s latest comment adds to other important personalities of the party who have stated their intentions of cancelling the levy.
They have embarked on countless actions to stop the levy, including protests and suits filed in court.