E-Levy, betting, emission taxes scrapped - President assents to bills

04-04-2025

E-Levy, betting, emission taxes scrapped - President assents to bills

President John Dramani Mahama has assented to a set of amended bills of Parliament, effectively abolishing the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), the betting tax, the Emissions Tax, among other related bills.  

The affected laws include the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; the Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Others are the Petroleum Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Public Financial Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

President Mahama also assented to the Gold Board Bill, 2025 that establishes the Ghana Gold Board, a regulatory body tasked with overseeing gold trade, ensuring transparency and promoting local participation in the industry.

The Bold Board marks a major step in the government’s efforts to regulate and maximise benefits from the country’s gold resources.  

After their assents, the laws will now be gazetted before their implementation can begin, although the authorities would start the process to effect the changes.

The signing ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday marked a significant step in the government’s commitment to reduce the financial burden on Ghanaians and to stimulate economic growth.  

Present at the ceremony were key government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and a former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, among others.

The repeal of the taxes takes immediate effect, with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) directed to halt their collection and begin implementing the necessary adjustments.

The betting tax, E-Levy and emission tax in particular had been subjects of widespread public debate, with critics arguing that they placed undue strain on businesses and individuals without necessarily impacting on the government’s revenue mobilisation efforts.

Indeed, the E-Levy, for instance, generated just about GH¢6 billion across all the sectors, while the betting tax raked in only GH¢180 million.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), during its 2024 election campaign, pledged to scrap the levies to foster a more business-friendly environment and ease the cost of living.  

The Gold Board Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament last Saturday, is expected to curb illegal mining activities, enhance revenue collection, and secure better deals for Ghana in the global gold market.  

Some of the key provisions of the Gold Board Bill, 2025, include centralised gold trading to ensure that all gold exports are channelled through the Ghana Gold Board to ensure proper valuation and taxation.  

It will also combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey by proposing and enforcing stiffer penalties for unlicensed mining operations and enhanced monitoring mechanisms, and also ensure a local content mandate to ensure increased Ghanaian participation in gold refining and trading, with incentives for indigenous businesses. 

Another provision of the law is revenue retention, which means a percentage of gold sales will be retained in a stabilisation fund to support economic development.

The Gold Board Bill, 2025 takes immediate effect, with the government expected to announce the Board’s substantive leadership in the coming days.

President Mahama reiterated his administration’s dedication to fiscal policies that prioritised citizens' welfare.

"Promises made, promises delivered,” he said yesterday after appending his signature to the repealed Bills.

He added that “these taxes were not only burdensome but also hindered economic activity. Their removal will empower businesses, encourage digital transactions, and promote sustainable development.”

The betting tax, introduced in 2018 but effected in 2023, had faced criticism for its impact on the gaming industry, while the E-Levy, implemented in 2022, was contentious due to its effect on mobile money transactions.

The Emissions Tax, aimed at reducing environmental pollution, had also been met with mixed reactions from stakeholders.  

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