Deputy Ranking Member of the Finance Committee and MP for Tano, Dr Gideon Boako, has challenged the Finance Minister’s claim that six taxes have been abolished, insisting that three of them never existed.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM‘s Top Story, Dr Boako accused Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of creating a false impression about tax reliefs.
“The Finance Minister ended the budget creating the impression that he is abolishing six different taxes—Emissions Levy, withholding tax on lotto winnings, VAT on motor vehicle insurance, E-Levy, 1.5% withholding tax on gold exports, and the COVID-19 Levy. I am saying to you on authority, three of those six taxes the Minister mentioned are never in existence,” he said.
He explained that there is no Emissions Levy charged on anyone in Ghana, no withholding tax on lotto winnings, and no VAT on motor vehicle insurance.
“Why did the minister say he is going to abolish something that does not exist?” he questioned.
The Tano MP clarified that only three taxes were truly abolished but were replaced with four new ones, contradicting the impression of tax relief.
“The government has abolished three taxes but is introducing four. The Growth and Sustainability Levy is increasing from 1% to 3%, with an extension from 2025 to 2028.
“The Special Import Levy is also being extended. The VAT exemption on life insurance is being removed. If you add the reintroduction of road tolls, then that makes it five new taxes,” he explained.
He accused the Finance Minister of misleading Ghanaians, stating, “The minister sought to deceive Ghanaians by saying he is abolishing six taxes when three of them do not even exist.”
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