News
COVID-19 levy abolished as Mahama assents to repeal act
Government has officially abolished the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy after President John Dramani Mahama signed the repeal legislation into law at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
The decision removes the 1% charge previously placed on goods, services and imports.
The levy was introduced on March 31, 2021 during the pandemic to help sustain economic recovery.
It was added to existing taxes such as VAT, NHIL and GETFund.
The repeal follows Parliament’s approval last month as part of government’s wider plan to phase out what it considers nuisance taxes and ease financial pressure on citizens.
With the new law in place, the scrapping of the levy will take effect from January 2026.
The change is expected to lower the cost of goods and services and give businesses and households some breathing space.
The COVID-19 tax, established under Act 1068, has been in place for four years.
The repeal forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at stimulating economic activity and increasing consumer spending.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old driver, Bismark Kpormeno, for possession of a large quantity of compressed plant materials suspected to be Indian hemp.
The arrest was made on Sunday, 31 May 2026 by officers of the Tema Highway Patrol Unit during an operation along the Tema-Ada road.
According to police, the suspect was driving a Hyundai Mighty I container truck and failed to stop when signaled. He attempted to evade arrest but was pursued and apprehended at Bondase.
A search of the vehicle revealed twelve 12 sacks and eighty 80 parcels of compressed plant materials concealed in a container and wrapped in sellotape.
Preliminary investigations show the narcotics were allegedly loaded at Kpeve in the Volta Region and were being transported to Ada.
The suspect is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. The truck and exhibits have been impounded for evidential purposes.
The Tema Regional Police Command says it remains committed to combating drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
They also urged the public to support law enforcement by providing timely and credible information on suspicious activities.
Firefighters from the Peki Fire Station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded swiftly to a fatal head-on collision involving a Mercedes-Benz container truck (WR 1553-C) travelling from Nkwanta to Accra and a Mercedes-Benz passenger bus (GR 3215-E) travelling from Battor to Kabiti in the Oti Region.
The crash occurred at Peki-Tsame near Peki Senior High School in the early hours of Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.
A total of forty (40) persons were involved, comprising twenty-one (21) males, fifteen (15) females, and four (4) children.
Through a coordinated rescue operation, firefighters extricated 25 injured casualties, including 23 adults and two children.
Sadly, 15 persons lost their lives, made up of nine males and 6 females.
The injured were conveyed to the Peki Government Hospital for treatment, while the deceased were handed over to the Police, who conveyed them to the hospital mortuary for preservation and further investigation. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and urges all motorists to observe road traffic regulations, avoid dangerous driving practices, and exercise maximum caution on the roads to help prevent accidents and save lives.
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