The Minority in Parliament has announced its plan to introduce a private member’s bill aimed at repealing the E-levy, emissions tax, and betting tax.
This decision follows the recent proposal by the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who promised to eliminate these taxes if elected in the 2024 polls.
The e-levy, emissions tax, and betting tax have been subjects of debate, and the Minority intends to address them through legislative action. The bill aims to compel the government to reconsider these taxes, which are viewed as nuisance taxes.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, highlighted in his concluding remarks on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Akufo-Addo that these taxes impose a heavy burden on businesses in the country.
He expressed hope that the Majority in the House, which supported Dr. Bawumia’s stance on removing the e-levy, would also support this bill.
“The unemployment situation in our country is at a crisis point. Mr Speaker the high cost of living has become a nightmare for many people. This has significantly deteriorated during the depreciation of our currency, especially Mr Speaker food inflation.
“Sadly a recent World Bank report on food security released on the 13th of November 2023 cited Ghana among the top five countries in the world with the highest food inflation. Many families in Ghana today cannot put food on the table,” he stated.