Former Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong has expressed support for the new administration’s decision to abolish the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), Betting Tax, and Emissions Tax.
He noted that the failure of these taxes to achieve their intended goals was expected, given the public backlash and legislative hurdles they faced.
“I believe that as an administration, we introduce taxes to support our vision and the policies we campaigned on. Initially, the E-Levy seemed like a positive step.
“However, we all witnessed the strong opposition and challenges surrounding its introduction. Given the issues that emerged, it is not surprising that it didn’t perform as expected or generate the desired revenue,” he said.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Thursday, April 3, Acheampong described the removal of the taxes as a welcome development, urging the new administration to explore innovative revenue-generation strategies.
“Its removal is quite welcoming, and I hope that the current administration will introduce more creative strategies to generate revenue for the country. If it’s gone, it’s gone; we do not need it as a country,” he stated.
His comments come after President John Dramani Mahama approved a series of legislative bills to eliminate multiple taxes, fulfilling the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) promise to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians.