Minority accuses gov’t of misleading Ghanaians with ‘no new taxes’ claim in 2027 budget
The Minority has accused the government of presenting a misleading picture of its tax policy by repeatedly insisting that the 2027 Budget introduces no new taxes while projecting a sharp increase in revenue from fees and charges.
The Minority party has criticized the government for deceiving Ghanaians regarding its tax policy in the upcoming 2027 budget. Finance Committee Ranking Member, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, pointed out that the government's claim of no new taxes is contradicted by the budget's figures. He highlighted projected revenue from fees and charges, which is expected to surge from GH¢1.3 billion in 2026 to GH¢6.1 billion in 2027, marking a staggering 354% increase.
The opposition also pointed out a projected 22.8% rise in taxes on goods and services, coupled with a 15.6% increase in PAYE revenue in 2027. Dr Adam argued that the government's assertion of raising revenue "without imposing new taxes on our people" is misleading when the budget's appendices reveal otherwise. He emphasized that fees for passports, licenses, permits, and registrations constitute additional financial burdens on citizens, even without the formal introduction of new tax categories.
The Minority insisted that the government's "no-new-tax" message fails to accurately reflect the broader financial impact on Ghanaians. They stressed that the true burden lies in what citizens actually pay, rather than the government's description of the revenue measures. Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, however, maintains that the 2027 budget will not introduce any new taxes.
He stated that the government will instead focus on enhancing compliance, closing revenue leakages, and modernizing tax administration.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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