Former Vice President and the 2024 presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has condemned the ruling NDC government for introducing the GHC 1 energy sector levy after scrapping the betting tax, the E-levy, and the emission levy.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the NDC government, while in opposition, campaigned heavily, criticizing the previous government for the numerous taxes it had imposed on Ghanaians. Dr. Bawumia maintained that the NDC has just thrown dust into the eyes of Ghanaians, urging Ghanaians to brace themselves for more draconian taxes from the NDC government.
Speaking in Cape Coast at the end of his nationwide 'Thank You Tour' in the Central Region, he accused the NDC of campaigning on deceptive promises and acting contrary to what they told Ghanaians during the 2024 election.
“The NDC has told a lot of lies. Everyone sees their lies every day. Last night, I hope you all saw it. They have introduced a dumsor Levy."
Dr. Bawumia said, “Initially, they said they would scrap the E-Levy we had introduced, and they’ve done that. But now, they have introduced the Dumsor Levy, and it is eight times the E-Levy. Now, when you buy one litre of petrol, you will pay one cedi as tax.”
Comparing the two levies, Dr. Bawumia said, “If you buy 1,000 cedis worth of fuel, you will pay 83 cedis as tax. With the E-Levy, if you sent 1,000 cedis to someone, you would only pay 10 cedis. But under them, for 1,000 cedis worth of fuel, you’ll pay 83 cedis.”
“And more is yet to come. By the time we get to 2028, Ghanaians will see that they have truly lied to us,” he said.
In his concluding statements, Dr. Bawumia was optimistic that Ghanaians will come back wailing and calling on the NPP to come deliver them from the claws of the NDC government.
“I believe that by then, they will ask us to come back and govern Ghana properly," he added.
Dr. Bawumia's comments come on the heels of introducing the GHC 1 levy on Petroleum products, a decision President Mahama has described as difficult but necessary to address the debt engulfing the energy sector.
Tags: Ghana News Ghana NPP
