We’ll see how you’ll raise revenue after removing all the taxes – Afenyo-Markin tells NDC MPs

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has expressed skepticism about how the incoming Mahama administration will raise revenue to fund its projects after promising to remove several taxes.

He noted that Ghanaians are keen to see how the Mahama administration will protect the public purse.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Mahama promised to scrap several taxes within his first 100 days in office, arguing that these taxes burdened Ghanaians. The taxes include the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on betting, emissions levy and import duty on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, December 16, the Effutu lawmaker said, “We are going to see how you [pointing to NDC MPs] will protect the public purse. We have heard from Terkper that you can’t finance the free SHS. We will see where you will raise revenue to fund the Nkokor Nkitinkitin.”

Ongoing recruitments have statutory approvals, not illegal, says Government’s Transition Team

Some analysts have also expressed similar sentiments.

For instance, Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, raised concerns about how the incoming Mahama administration will generate revenue for development if it removes all the taxes it has promised to abolish.

Jackson highlighted the significant challenges in managing the economy, particularly with the manifesto pledge to remove certain taxes, including the e-levy.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap several taxes within his first 100 days in office, arguing that these taxes burden Ghanaians. The taxes include the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on betting, emissions levy and import duty on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Speaking on TV3 on Friday, December 13, Jackson said, “Let us not be mistaken, in 2025, we have to look at how we are performing in terms of revenue because some of the items are going to go out. There has been a manifesto commitment to take out the e-levy, betting tax, the COVID levy. So, a lot of issues are going to come out and I have no doubt in my mind that the challenge is going to be huge.”

He added, “You say you are going to remove tax A, B, C, D. But where is the money going to come from?”

When asked why anyone would want to be president in 2025 given the impending challenges, Jackson responded, “Because somebody has to step up and rule, somebody has to step up and fix the country, somebody has to step up.”

The post We’ll see how you’ll raise revenue after removing all the taxes – Afenyo-Markin tells NDC MPs first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story