Gov’t to Scrap E-Levy and Betting Tax in 2025 Budget
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has reaffirmed the government’s decision to abolish the e-levy and betting tax, fulfilling a key campaign promise.In an interview on Channel One TV on March 3, 2025, he assured that these tax removals would be reflected in the upcoming national budget set for March 11. This follows President John Mahama’s commitment to eliminating the controversial levies, which have faced widespread opposition.Ampem explained that the government would address a 61% VAT revenue gap to recover lost funds, improving tax collection efficiency instead.The e-levy, first introduced in 2022 at 1.5% before being reduced to 1%, has been criticized for discouraging digital transactions. Similarly, the betting tax, which imposed a 10% charge on winnings, faced backlash from the gaming community.