The member of parliament for Tano North, Dr. Gideon Boako has boldly revealed the National Democratic Congress’s plan to scrap e-levy only to increase electricity tariffs.
According to Gideon Boako, the energy minister John Jinapor is on record to have said when the NDC scraps the e-levy they will increase electricity tariffs.
John Jinapor in an interview some weeks ago with TV3 revealed the IMF has proposed the government of Ghana increase electricity tariffs by 58%.
The Energy Minister stated, “The IMF and the World Bank are projecting that we should be increasing tariffs by 58%, how you are going to increase taxes by 58% is a major thing, when they did their analysis it showed that there was a huge differential”.
Gideon Boako noted that the Mahama government must be truthful to Ghanaians and with time will understand that five years out of the 8 years NPP never increased electricity tariffs.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Gideon Boako stated, “My brother John Jinapor, is quoted to have said, that when they scrap e-levy they will increase the price of electricity to make up for the revenue shortfall. It is not true, it can not be true, the IMF program did not start today, or am I telling lies?”
“From 2009 to 2017, the eight years that the NDC was in government were 7 years out of the 8 years they increased electricity tariffs, the only year the NDC did not increase electricity tariffs was 2009 when they first came”, he added.
Dr. Gideon Boako noted that under former president Akufo-Addo the same IMF program was already running but he only increased electricity tariffs three times in eight years.
Gideon Boako further added, “President Akufo-Addo inherited an IMF program under the NDC, with the program ending he later introduced another IMF program in the 8 years two different IMF programs, but out of the 8 years only three years did the NPP increase electricity tariffs in Ghana.
In 2017, 2018 there was a reduction of 17.46 %, 2019 it increased by 17.5%, 2020 Akufo-Addo did not increase the electricity price, 2021 there was no price increase, 2022 Akufo-Addo did not increase the electricity price, 2020 we were gifted electricity, 2023 he increased and last year an increase of 6%”, he boldly stated.
Gideon Boako further stated, “So, when you come to the office today you are telling us when Akufo-Addo was in office with two IMF programs, the 8 years he increased electricity just 3 times. The IMF program was already there during Akufo-Addo’s time and he didn’t increase electricity prices now you are claiming IMF says increase electricity you are not telling the truth.
We have to be truthful to Ghanaians, with time people will begin to understand five years out of the 8 years NPP never increased electricity tariffs”.
Meanwhile, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance is set to present the 2025 Budget to Parliament on March 11.
The question on many Ghanaians’ lips is will the e-levy and betting tax be finally scrapped by the John Mahama administration after they promised to do so.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson during his vetting stated that in his first budget as Finance Minister, he would abolish the betting tax and the e-levy.
According to Ato Forson, the betting tax and e-levy have failed to achieve their purpose.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, January 13, Dr Forson stated, “I insist that the betting tax must be abolished, and as Finance Minister, I will abolish it in my first budget because it has failed,”
“My position on the e-levy is well known. I have written articles about it, and my position has not changed,” he stated.
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— Kwadwo Sheldon (@kwadwosheldon) February 23, 2025
