Founder and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticized the government for retaining the COVID-19 levy despite strong calls from the business community for its removal.
The government argues that, the levy is still necessary to address the ongoing financial impacts of the pandemic.
Ahead of the mid-year budget review, the business community had urged the government to eliminate several redundant taxes, including the COVID-19 levy.
Despite these appeals, the government has defended its decision to keep the levy in place.
Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, stated during a Public Accounts Committee meeting on Wednesday that while the immediate threat of COVID-19 has lessened, the financial effects of the pandemic continue to be felt.
But Mr. Cudjoe emphasized the burden that taxes are placing on Ghanaians.
He called on the Akufo-Addo administration to urgently abolish the COVID-19 levy and expressed frustration over the lack of infrastructure development despite the government’s extensive tax collection.
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