Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken aim at the Mahama-led government for failing to fulfill its promise to repeal the COVID-19 levy in the 2025 budget.
Speaking on the matter on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, Ahiagbah questioned the government’s commitment to its campaign promises.
“My point is that will they repeal the COVID-19 levy? Are they going to remove it? If they are not going to remove it, they should tell us,” he stated.
He criticised what he described as “theatrics” surrounding the government’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), suggesting that such actions would not address the real concerns of Ghanaians.
Ahiagbah further argued that the decision to retain the COVID-19 levy contradicts the government’s earlier promises and imposes an unnecessary burden on citizens.
“The taxes he has removed—he should have removed the COVID-19 levy as well because they promised they were going to remove it. He kept it because that is what is going to close the gap for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister during the 2025 budget presentation on Tuesday March 11 noted that the government will undertake VAT reforms which will be completed by the end of this year and will include among other things the abolishing of the COVID-19 levy.
