Despite being urged to eliminate it, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has decided to retain the Covid-19 Levy. The levy, known as the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, was implemented to generate revenue in order to aid the fight against Covid-19. In his recent national address on May 28, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the 1% tax was unpopular, but declared that the government would continue to enforce the levy. This decision has drawn criticism from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Togu.
He said, “The COVID Health Recovery Levy that was introduced to help fill some of the expenditure holes might not be the most popular tax, but I entreat all of you to bear with us.”
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“Let me make it clear that COVID expenditures, essentially unplanned, have been subject, at my instigation, to audit by the Auditor-General, and are going through parliamentary processes. We all deserve to be reassured that the crisis was not used as a cover for corrupt practices”, he added.
Mr Ablakwa said “Ghanaians expected President Akufo-Addo to have announced the scrapping of COVID 19 even as he liest all restrictions.
“Ghanaians also expected the awful E-levy to be abolished since his government has opted for an IMF bailout.
“President Akufo-Addo must be sincere and sensitive to the plight of the suffering Ghanaians.”
