The Centre for Policy Scrutiny is urging the government to reconsider some recently abolished taxes, including the E-Levy, COVID-19 levy, and betting tax, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and ease mounting fiscal pressures.
The taxes were scrapped following the 2024 general election, in line with a campaign promise by the government, which had described them as nuisance taxes that placed an undue burden on citizens already grappling with multiple levies.
However, speaking at a policy presentation held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, tax analyst Isaac Danso Agyiri argued that a restructured approach to these taxes could generate up to GH¢18 billion in revenue by 2027.
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He maintained that rather than being discarded entirely, the taxes should be redesigned to reflect current economic conditions, particularly rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
Agyiri proposed increasing the daily threshold for the E-Levy to reduce its impact on low-income earners. “If we factor in inflation and the cost of living, can we set a daily minimum threshold of GH¢500 so that transactions up to that amount are exempt?” he suggested.
He also recommended introducing caps to limit the maximum tax payable per transaction, proposing a ceiling of GH¢100 to enhance fairness and equity in the system.
Beyond structural adjustments, Agyiri emphasised the need for accountability in the use of such revenues. He proposed that proceeds from any reinstated taxes be ring-fenced for pro-poor interventions, ensuring that revenue generation aligns with social protection and inclusive development goals.
The proposal comes at a time when the government is under increasing pressure to expand its revenue base amid rising expenditure and tightening liquidity conditions.