By Iddi Yire
Accra, April 02, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has assented to Bills repealing E-Levy, Betting Tax and the Emissions Levy.
The object of the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, is to repeal the Electronic Transfer Levy Act, 2022 (Act 1075) (E-Levy) and Electronic Transfer Levy (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1089).
The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to remove the withholding tax on winnings from lottery, betting and game of chance as well as on the purchase of unprocessed gold.
The object of the Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025 is to also repeal the Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112).
The event, which took place at the Presidency was witnessed by Dr Cassiel Baah Forson, Finance Minister, Mr Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the Clark to Parliament, Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, and Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister in-charge of Government Communications.
The rest are Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, a Presidential Advisor on the Economy and a former Finance Minister, Mrs Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to the President and Presidential Advisor, and Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Senior Legal Advisor to the President.
Government, as part of its tax reform agenda, is implementing measures aimed at improving disposable incomes of households and reducing the overall tax burden of taxpayers.
The removal of the E-Levy will not only result in increased disposable income for Ghanaian households and individuals.
It will also provide financial relief to companies that patronise the E-Levy. This policy aligns with the Government’s broader commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing financial inclusion.
The repeal of the E-Levy will encourage the government’s objective at achieving a cash-lite economy.
The repeal of the levy is also expected to stimulate digital transactions, encourage financial innovation, and ease the cost of doing business. Additionally, this measure is anticipated to boost consumer spending and drive economic activity across various sectors.
Concerning the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the removal of these withholding taxes is expected to provide additional income to persons in the affected categories.
Furthermore, the removal of the withholding tax on the purchase of unprocessed gold is expected to curtail smuggling and ensure that Ghana benefits from its gold resources.
The rest of the eight Bills, which the President assented to include: Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Public Financial Management Bill, 2025, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Gold Gold Board Bill, 2025.
GNA