Reinstate E-levy, betting tax to raise GHc18bn for Ghana - Tax Analyst tells government

The Centre for Policy Scrutiny has urged the government to reconsider reinstating previously abolished taxes—such as the E-Levy, COVID-19 levy, and betting tax—as part of efforts to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation and alleviate mounting fiscal pressures.

These levies were removed in line with a campaign pledge ahead of the 2024 general election, with the government describing them as ‘nuisance’ taxes that placed an excessive burden on citizens already facing multiple tax obligations.

During a presentation hosted by the Centre on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, tax analyst Isaac Danso Agyiri indicated that, if restructured, the three taxes could collectively generate as much as GHS18 billion by 2027.

Also readPatience Akyianu, former Barclays Bank Ghana MD and Hollard CEO, reportedly dies

He noted that such revenue would provide critical support at a time of rising public expenditure and constrained liquidity.

Also readL.I. 2519: Full list of road traffic offences and jail terms in Ghana

According to Agyiri, the scrapped taxes should not be permanently discarded but rather redesigned to reflect prevailing economic conditions.

“The first way to do that is, for example, increase the threshold, the daily minimum threshold… If you factor in inflation and cost of living, can we, for example, put a GHS500 daily threshold so that if your transaction is up to five hundred a day, you don’t pay E-Levy?” Agyiri asked.

Also readAccra-Kumasi Expressway: Route, interchanges, distance and key details of the 198.7km project

He further recommended the introduction of transaction caps to promote fairness within the system. “Can we also, for example, put a maximum threshold and say that the maximum E-Levy you pay on a transaction is up to, say, GHS100… These are all ways we can work it to address the equity situation,” he added.

Mr Agyiri also emphasised that proceeds from any reinstated taxes could be ring-fenced to support pro-poor initiatives, ensuring that revenue generation aligns with broader social equity objectives.