The Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Abena Osei Asare, has argued that the government will continue collecting the COVID-19 recovery levy to address the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic.
This comes in response to calls from the Minority in Parliament and sections of the public for the government to scrap taxes like the COVID levy and e-levy to alleviate the financial burdens on Ghanaians due to the high cost of living.
Addressing the issue at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on Wednesday, July 24, Madam Osei Asare emphasised that although the pandemic may be over, the government still needs to finance COVID-19 vaccines to build citizens’ immunities.
“COVID is no more, but we still feel the impact of COVID. There are many things that we did during COVID-19 that we are now having to take care of,” she explained.
Asked when the COVID levy would be discontinued, she could not provide a specific timeline. She however, noted that when the tax was introduced in Parliament, it was agreed it would be subject to a review after a certain period.
“What I know is that COVID-19 vaccines are still in the system and, Mr. Chairman, they are not for free. We still have to service the 10 million bond loans we took from the Bank of Ghana.”
The leader of the Movement for Change, Allan Kyerematen has also called for the abolition of the COVID-19 levy and the Ghana Health Service disinfection fee during the launch of his Great Transformation Agenda.
He questioned the relevance of these fees in 2024, asking, “How can we be collecting COVID fees and disinfection fees in 2024?”
Additionally, he outlined plans to phase out taxes and charges on imported spare parts within two years if his administration is established under a government of National Unity.
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