The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has promised to scrap draconian taxes within his first 100 days in office if elected in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The taxes earmarked for elimination within the first 100 days of his administration, include the contentious e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, and the emissions levy.
Mahama explained that this decision would alleviate hardships and reduce the high cost of doing business in the country.
At the launch of the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto in Winneba, Central Region, on Saturday, August 24, Mahama pledged, “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.”
Furthermore, the NDC flagbearer committed to scrapping import duties on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.
“[I’ll] Scrap import duty on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.”
To further alleviate consumer hardships, Mahama also pledged to apply the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy on fuel to stabilize prices and rationalize fees at ports to reduce the burden on importers.
Additionally, he promised to undertake a comprehensive reform of Ghana’s VAT regime to provide relief for households by reversing the VAT flat rate regime, which has been a significant burden on many households and businesses.
“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.”