The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu and a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Attah Issa, has assured Ghanaians that the government will not introduce any new taxes in the upcoming 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review.
The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, is expected to present the mid-year statement to Parliament today, July 24.
Speaking to Tutuwaa Danso on Starr Today, the lawmaker stressed government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and economic recovery, stating that spending will remain within the GH₵293 billion appropriation approved by Parliament in March.
“It’s not that we are not spending; we are, but we are avoiding expansionary expenditure, which means spending beyond our capacity,” Attah Issa stated. “In the past, many African governments spent excessively and borrowed heavily to manage debt. Today, debt accumulation has slowed significantly because we are no longer borrowing excessively.”
The MP highlighted the performance of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), noting that despite the removal of certain taxes, the authority exceeded its revenue targets.
“The GRA has outperformed expectations in the first two quarters, achieving 104% of its revenue target; 4% above forecast. This demonstrates that increased revenue collection doesn’t always require new taxes,” he added.
Addressing speculation around possible new levies, Issa dismissed concerns, explaining that the only tax considered was the Energy Sector Levy, aimed at using marginal gains from fuel prices to resolve issues in the power sector. However, he clarified that the law exists but is not being implemented.
“Given the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East; our main source of refined oil; it would be unjust to impose additional taxes on already burdened Ghanaians. I do not believe the Finance Minister will pursue this further.”
Touching on the much-debated COVID-19 levy, Issa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to abolish it. He revealed that the 2026 national budget already projects zero revenue from the levy, a clear signal that it will be scrapped next year.
“We promised to remove it, and while the exact timeline wasn’t initially defined, the 2026 budget appendix shows zero revenue from the COVID-19 levy. That confirms our intention to scrap it.”
He further lauded the government’s bold move to remove key tax handles in recent months, including the betting tax, as part of efforts to ease the burden on citizens.
On infrastructure, the MP hinted at a wave of road construction projects to begin in the coming months.
“Over the next seven months, we will see significant road construction across the country. Every constituency or district will receive its fair share; with at least 10 kilometers of road construction allocated to each.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
