Economist Ebo Duncan has voiced strong opposition to the abolition of the E-Levy, arguing that it should remain in place to help bridge Ghana’s tax gap.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, Duncan explained, “The E-Levy doesn’t bring much, about 5%, but it bridges the tax rate.”
He also called for urgent tax reforms, particularly at the ports, where he criticized the multiple layers of taxation applied to imports.
“Why do you tax tax? The port taxes increase the price of imports. You tax the GETFUND and then the NHIL again, why? That’s just multiplication of taxes,” Duncan added.
The economist’s comments come as discussions on Ghana’s economic future heat up ahead of the 2024 elections.
The Finance Ministry insists it will hand over a stronger economy to the incoming government, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by John Mahama, is pledging tax cuts and promises of a 24-hour economy to stimulate growth.