The government has justified maintaining the COVID-19 levy, emphasizing its importance in managing the ongoing financial repercussions of the pandemic, despite widespread calls from the business community for its removal.
This comes amid recent criticisms from citizens demanding the elimination of what they consider redundant taxes, including the COVID-19 levy.
Addressing the issue before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on July 24, 2024, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, stated that while the immediate threat of COVID-19 has lessened, the financial impacts of the pandemic persist.
“The effects of COVID are still with us, and government is using the levy to address the effects of COVID-19. We still have to pay for COVID-19 vaccines to build the immunities of our citizens. The taxes that we raise are raised to support the budget. We bring the budget to parliament; we show our expenditure, to parliament on how we are going to raise the revenue to fund the expenditure.”
Hon. Abena Osei-Asare also disclosed that the COVID-19 levy is under consideration for review, but government has not yet initiated the process.
“For the COVID-19 levy, when we brought it to the floor of parliament, we said that after a period, it will be subject to review and so I cannot sit here and say when, but it was also stated when we brought that revenue measure to parliament.”
Story by: Alexander Kuuku Osei-Baidoo | univers.ug.edu.gh
