By Amoako Kwame
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has declared its opposition to any new taxes or levies or levies, arguing that citizens are already struggling with rising living costs, inflationary pressures, and a difficult business environment.
Addressing journalists during a parliamentary leadership briefing on Friday, May 22, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei said the caucus believes the current economic conditions do not support additional taxation.
According to her, although the Minority supports efforts to improve fiscal discipline and reduce wasteful public spending, the government’s reforms since taking office in January 2025 have not translated into meaningful relief for ordinary Ghanaians. She argued that many of the announced measures remain slow in implementation and have had limited impact on the high cost of living faced by households and businesses.
Appiagyei criticised the governing National Democratic Congress administration for what she described as a contradiction between its current tax policies and its previous position while in opposition. She noted that the NDC had strongly criticised several taxes under the former administration but has since introduced new levies after assuming power.
“The Minority welcomes genuine efforts to cut waste, but reforms so far appear too slow and largely cosmetic. Ghanaians are already overburdened with taxes, and we maintain our firm position against any new taxes,” she stated.
Her remarks come at a time when Ghana continues efforts to stabilise its economy following recent fiscal challenges, including high public debt, inflation, and pressure from international lenders. The government has been pursuing revenue mobilisation measures as part of broader economic recovery commitments tied to support programmes from the International Monetary Fund.
Over the past few years, tax-related debates have remained a major political issue in Ghana. Policies such as the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), VAT adjustments, and fuel-related taxes generated significant public backlash, with critics arguing that such measures increased the burden on citizens already dealing with unemployment, currency depreciation, and rising utility costs.
Economic analysts have also warned that while governments need to increase domestic revenue to fund development and meet debt obligations, excessive taxation without corresponding improvements in public services and economic opportunities can weaken consumer spending and slow business growth.
The Minority Caucus insists that the government should instead prioritise reducing unnecessary expenditure, improving transparency in public spending, widening the tax net, and tackling corruption rather than introducing additional levies on citizens.
