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Ghana on brink of tax relief as Mahama govt scraps ‘nuisance taxes’ – Hopeson Adorye
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Ghanaians are beginning to feel relief following the removal of several taxes described as burdensome by the government, Executive Director of Taxpayers League Ghana, Hopeson Yaovi Adorye, has noted.
According to him, the effect is already visible.
In a statement, he posited that taxes, which were scrapped in the Mahama administration’s 2025 Budget, are the 1% Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), 10% withholding tax on betting and lottery winnings, Emissions Levy on industries and vehicles, VAT on motor vehicle insurance, and the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold from small-scale miners.
Parliament passed the repeal bills and President John Dramani Mahama assented to them in April 2025.
He said the removal of E-Levy has made mobile money transfers cheaper for traders, students and families who rely on digital transactions and remittances, while the scrapping of the betting tax, emissions levy and VAT on vehicle insurance has eased the burden on businesses and motorists.
According to him, the move signals a shift from taxing everything to building a system that encourages compliance and growth.
Mr. Adorye however cautioned that tax relief should not lead to revenue collapse. He urged government to focus on better taxes rather than more taxes by broadening the tax base, closing loopholes, digitising revenue collection and ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share.
He added that attention must now be on VAT reform, noting that government has already acknowledged that the current VAT regime is complex and costly and has started a comprehensive review to simplify it.
“The repeal is just the beginning. The true test will be whether Ghanaians feel the difference in their pockets, whether businesses can operate more freely, and whether every cedi collected is used responsibly,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Parliament has clarified public commentary on social media regarding a notice on its notice board that read “No Vacancy for National Service Personnel 2026/2027. Kindly go for reposting.”
In a statement, signed by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament said the notice has been misconstrued and was not a policy statement, a freeze on national service placements, or a change in its support for the National Service Scheme.
According to Parliament, the notice was a routine administrative message to prospective personnel who reported to the House, informing them that it has received more personnel than it can accommodate for the 2026/2027 service year and that they should seek reposting to other institutions.
It said it remains committed to the National Service Scheme and values the contribution of service personnel to its work, and regrets any confusion or inconvenience the wording may have caused.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghanaian public advocate Hopeson Yaovi Adorye has been elected to the Board of Directors of the World Taxpayers Association (WTA).
The election took place on Sunday, October 5, 2026, during the Association’s conference in Kraków, Poland.
His election marks a significant addition to his international leadership portfolio and provides a platform for Ghanaian and African perspectives to contribute to global discussions on taxpayer rights, responsible taxation, transparency and prudent management of public resources.
Reacting to his election, Mr. Adorye expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the WTA for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am deeply honoured by this confidence and conscious of the responsibility that comes with it. Taxpayers are at the heart of every economy, and they deserve fairness, transparency, accountability and value for the taxes they pay. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the world to strengthen the voice of taxpayers and promote responsible fiscal governance,” he said.
According to him, taxation should not be viewed solely as a mechanism for raising government revenue, but also as an important component of the social contract between citizens and the state.
Mr. Adorye said governments have a responsibility to ensure taxes are collected fairly and public resources are utilised efficiently to deliver quality infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and other essential services.
His election also creates an opportunity to bring African experiences into international conversations on taxation and public expenditure.
Mr. Adorye, who is Executive Director of Taxpayers League Ghana, has previously served as Global Board Chairman of the International Youth Network for UN Security Council Resolution 2250, an NGO associated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
He is expected to use his new role to champion fiscal accountability, taxpayer education, good governance and stronger citizen participation in public financial management.
