The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has criticized the Mahama-led government for failing to repeal the COVID-19 levy in the 2025 budget, despite earlier promises to do so.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, Ahiagbah questioned the government’s commitment to its campaign pledges.
“Will they repeal the COVID-19 levy? Are they going to remove it? If they are not, they should tell us,” he said.
He accused the government of engaging in political theatrics with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rather than addressing the real economic concerns of Ghanaians.
Ahiagbah argued that retaining the levy contradicts the government’s assurances and places an unnecessary financial burden on citizens.
“The taxes he has removed—he should have removed the COVID-19 levy as well because they promised to do so. He kept it because that is what will close the gap for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the 2025 budget presentation on March 11, the Finance Minister revealed that the government plans to implement VAT reforms by the end of the year, which will include the abolition of the COVID-19 levy.