President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has kept the Covid-19 Levy despite calls on him to abolish it.
The special levy to be known as the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy on the supply of goods and services and imports was meant to raise revenue to support the fight against Covid.
In spite of the fact that President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on Sunday, May 28 described the 1% tax as unpopular, he stated that the government would continue to charge the levy.
“Let me make it clear that COVID expenditures, essentially unplanned, have been subject, at my instigation, to audit by the Auditor-General, and are going through parliamentary processes. We all deserve to be reassured that the crisis was not used as a cover for corrupt practices”, the President added.
This attracted criticisms from North Togu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Ablakwa said “Ghanaians expected President Akufo-Addo to have announced the scrapping of COVID 19 even as he liest all restrictions.
“Ghanaians also expected the awful E-levy to be abolished since his government has opted for an IMF bailout.
“President Akufo-Addo must be sincere and sensitive to the plight of the suffering Ghanaians.”