The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has chastised persons calling on the government to remove the 1% covid levy placed on businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.
“Taxes paid are meant for national development but not to be used by individuals for personal gains. The covid-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war affected the economy so badly that there was nothing the government could do to generate funds to manage the economy, but one can testify to the current developmental projects ongoing in some parts of the country, that is the benefits of the taxes government collected. Removing covid levy is a question for the experts, but i believe that if we keep paying taxes the economy will bounce back” he intimated
He made these remarks on Plan B FM morning show ‘Nkosuo Nsem’ when he was speaking to Nana Yaw Abrompah
The government still wants to raise more revenue through the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, despite the end of the pandemic in the country.
This may come as a disappointment to both consumers and the business community who have been pushing for the removal of the tax, which they say is contributing to the rising cost of products and services.
For instance, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has said the government must do all it can to cushion the business community, especially abolishing the nuisance taxes that make the cost of doing business in Ghana expensive.
While describing the 1% tax as unpopular in his 29th Covid -19 address on Sunday May 28, 2023, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that the government will continue to charge the levy to bridge the fiscal gaps generated by the pandemic while addressing other expenditure challenges.
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