3 months ago
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The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reiterated his commitment to abolishing the controversial E-Levy and Betting Tax if elected President in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at the NPP’s manifesto launch in Takoradi on Sunday, he outlined a comprehensive vision for tax reforms aimed at alleviating the financial burden on Ghanaians and fostering economic growth.
Dr Bawumia emphasised his administration’s plans to introduce broad tax reforms, which include a one-time tax amnesty for both individuals and corporate entities.
This initiative is designed to clear outstanding tax obligations and provide a fresh start for all taxpayers.
He also promised to reform the Value Added Tax (VAT) system by consolidating all levies into a single line item, addressing the cascading effects of the current VAT regime.
In addition to these tax reforms, Dr Bawumia outlined strategies to position Ghana as a global digital leader.
His administration plans to invest in local talent and technology start-ups, aiming to transform Ghana into Africa’s digital hub, he emphasised that this transformation would be supported by strategic policies, competitive incentives, and targeted investments.
Dr Bawumia also addressed specific tax-related issues, including the reduction of Withholding Tax for small-scale gold exports to one per cent to combat smuggling, and the abolition of the Betting Tax.
He stressed that these reforms and investments are designed to unlock Ghana’s economic potential, improve the business climate, and enhance opportunities for citizens.
By focusing on both tax relief and digital innovation, Dr Bawumia said he aims to drive sustainable economic growth and address key concerns of Ghanaians.
At the same ceremony, he announced plans to introduce a free tertiary education scholarship for Persons with Disability (PWDs) if the party is elected to govern again.
He said this initiative aims to remove financial barriers that hinder PWDs from achieving their educational goals.
“The next NPP government will introduce Free Tertiary Education Scholarship for PWDs to remove financial barriers to pursuing educational goals,” Dr Bawumia promised, highlighting the NPP’s commitment to inclusive education.
Dr Bawumia also outlined plans to increase the availability of student accommodation in public universities and other public tertiary institutions, adding that “this move is intended to address the current housing deficit on campuses and ensure that student housing is more affordable.”
Touching on scholarships, he asserted that the NPP government will “integrate scholarship databases across all the public sector institutions managing such schemes, to ensure full visibility.”
Furthermore, he promised to expand eligibility for the Students Loan Scheme to include all post-secondary students, encompassing those enrolled in certificate and diploma programmes.
Dr Bawumia also emphasised the importance of prioritising national scholarship schemes towards training and skills development in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and other critical areas needed for national development.
Additionally, he mentioned the implementation of the Centralised Applications Processing Service (CAPS) for tertiary institutions, which would allow applicants to “apply once, and pay once,” streamlining the application process across institutions.
BY PRECIOUS NYARKO BOAKYE
