- Deputy Finance Minister confirms the COVID-19 levy will be removal
- The levy removal is part of VAT reforms
- The E-levy and betting tax have been removed
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has confirmed that the COVID-19 levy is expected to be removed by the end of the year.
He explained that the levy will be reviewed as part of the broader process of Value Added Tax (VAT) rationalization, a move that was promised by President Mahama’s administration to repeal.
In an interview with Joy News, Nyarko Ampem emphasized that the Mahama administration is committed to eliminating what it sees as nuisance taxes, pointing out that both the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) and the betting tax have already been abolished.
When asked about the possibility of further tax reductions, he responded, “It’s difficult to make any promises at this moment, but as the economy improves, we would certainly consider repealing additional taxes.”
He further explained, “The COVID-19 levy will be reviewed as part of the VAT rationalization process we’ve committed to. Once that process is completed, I believe the COVID levy will be removed. I’m hopeful that by the end of the year, we’ll be able to finalize the rationalization and remove the levy.”
Nyarko Ampem reiterated that President Mahama remains committed to delivering the promises laid out in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto.
“We are working towards fulfilling all of the promises he made, including the rationalization of these taxes,” he added.
In the 2025 Budget, the government also outlined plans to reform the VAT system, including the removal of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, merging health and education levies with VAT, and reducing the number of eligible VAT-registered traders.
