Dennis Miracles Aboagye a former Director of Communications for the 2024 Dr Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team has boldly stated the John Mahama government’s failure to cancel the e-levy, betting tax, and COVID-19 levy will be the grandest deception in Ghana.
According to Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NDC government must fulfil all the promises they made to Ghanaians during the 2024 campaign season.
He further added that the NPP would hold the government’s hands to the fire to fulfil their promises.
Speaking on Citi FM, Dennis Miracles Aboagye stated, “We believe that for each of the things that the NDC, as a party, promised the people, and each of the pledges they made, they must fulfil them. Our job as an opposition party is to work with them to ensure that they keep their word.
“For tomorrow’s budget, I am looking forward to the cancellation of the betting tax, e-levy, COVID tax, and all other taxes they promised to cancel because that is the promise they made to the people of this country. They hold it as a responsibility to us to fulfil that promise, and we will hold their hands to the fire. I think that is what the opposition is meant to do.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye further revealed that the NPP would not be as disruptive as how the National Democratic Congress (NDC) where in opposition.
He added, “We are not going to be disruptive like how they did to us. The president must fulfil his promise because they told us at the time e-levy was introduced that they were going to cancel it. They described it as a draconian tax that imposed a lot of hardship on the people.
“It will be the grandest deception the country has ever experienced if the promise is not fulfilled. If a political party makes specific promises, assures you that if you vote for them, they will deliver, and then they fail to do so, then we are in trouble,” Dennis Miracles Aboagye stated.
Meanwhile, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State for Government Communications has revealed the John Mahama government is on course to scrap E-Levy, COVID Levy in the 2025 budget.
John Mahama’s 120-day Social Contract listed the removal of the E-Levy, the COVID levy, a 10% tax on bet winnings, and the emissions levy all within the administration’s first 90 days in government.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Monday, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “The finance minister has clearly indicated that we are on course to meeting those promises. So when on Tuesday he unveils the details of his budget, you will find that we have kept faith with the people of Ghana regarding the specific promises we made in the 120-day social contract,” Ofosu stated.
Addressing concerns about the Ghana Cedi depreciation, he added, “In terms of the currency, the finance minister will highlight measures both within the long term and medium term to address the financial weaknesses within our economy, one of which is rapid currency depreciation.
“In concert with development partners and other stakeholders within the economy, appropriate measures will be prescribed for addressing this perennial challenge of currency depreciation”, he emphasised.
However, a survey by auditing and accounting firm, KPMG has revealed the John Mahama government will lose GH¢6.4 billion if the E-levy and Covid tax is scrapped tomorrow in the 2025 budget reading.
“KPMG notes that abolishing the E-levy and Covid-19 levy could result in a revenue shortfall of at least GH¢6.4 billion”.
“Beyond the revenue measures proposed by respondents, the government should also leverage technology to enhance property rate administration and collection, as well as review taxation within the digital and e-commerce sectors.
