President Mahama Fulfills Key Campaign Pledge, Assents to Abolishment of Betting Tax, E-Levy, and Emissions Tax
President John Dramani Mahama has fulfilled a major campaign promise by signing into law a set of amended bills that abolish the betting tax, e-Levy, and emissions tax, among others.
The signing, completed in his office, marks a significant step in his administration’s efforts to reduce the financial burden on Ghanaians and drive economic growth.
The removal of these taxes was a central promise in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s manifesto, aimed at easing the cost of living and encouraging business expansion.
Parliament on Wednesday, March 26, passed a bill to abolish the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy). The repeal of the E-Levy has been widely welcomed by Ghanaians, who strongly opposed the tax.
The levy, introduced in 2022 by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, imposed a 1.5% tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments.
Since its introduction, there have been protests and public outcry, with critics arguing that it disproportionately affected low-income earners and the unbanked population.