Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, has vehemently rejected the government’s assertion of providing substantial tax relief in the 2025 Budget. The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee has criticized the claim made by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, stating that only two out of six taxes mentioned for removal have actually been abolished.
In an interview on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah accused the Finance Minister of misleading the public by overstating the extent of the tax relief measures. According to Oppong Nkrumah, a detailed review of the budget documents reveals that only two taxes have been removed: the 1% Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) and the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold by small-scale miners.
The Finance Minister had listed the following six taxes as removed:
- 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 insists that the other four taxes—the betting tax, emission levy, VAT on insurance, and COVID-19 levy—remain in effect, despite the government’s claims to the contrary. He emphasized that a careful examination of the budget documents shows these taxes have not been abolished, calling for greater transparency and honesty from the government.
“The government’s claims of tax relief are misleading. Ghanaians deserve accurate information, not political spin,” he stated. He further urged Dr. Forson to clarify the actual tax relief measures and ensure that any relief is backed by real policy changes rather than mere rhetoric.
As Parliament gets ready to debate the 2025 budget appropriation, the government’s tax relief claims are expected to face intense scrutiny.
Source; theghanareport
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