President John Dramani Mahama has given his official seal of approval to a suite of legislative bills aimed at abolishing several taxes, including the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), Betting Tax, and Emissions Tax.
This move is in line with the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) commitment to alleviating the financial burden on Ghanaians.
The journey to the abolition of these taxes began on March 13, 2025, when Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented eight bills to Parliament, targeting the repeal and amendment of various taxes and levies.
The bills included the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025, among others.
The E-Levy, which was introduced in 2022, imposed a 1% charge on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers and online payments. However, its implementation was met with widespread public resistance due to its perceived impact on disposable incomes.
The Betting Tax, which levied a 10% charge on gross winnings from gambling activities, also faced criticism from stakeholders in the gaming industry.
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, then-flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, pledged to abolish these taxes within his first 120 days in office if elected.
Notably, with his recent approval of the amended tax bills, his administration has fulfilled that campaign promise, providing relief to Ghanaians who had been bearing the brunt of these taxes.
