Slow down on populism – Mahama warned of the implications of scrapping e-levy, betting tax, and others

Former Executive Vice President of Unilever Global Markets, Yaw Nsarkoh, has expressed concerns over tax policies proposed by President-elect John Dramani Mahama.

Mahama, in his social contract with Ghanaians, pledged to scrap the betting tax, e-levy, COVID-19 levy, and emissions levy within his first 90 days in office.

Nsarkoh, however, described these promises as populist, warning that eliminating these taxes—expected to generate GHS 1 trillion in 2024—would create a revenue shortfall too large to offset easily.

In a social media post, Nsarkoh emphasized the need for a scientific approach to tax policies, noting Ghana’s current financial struggles.

“We are bankrupt,” he stated, urging the incoming administration to reconsider such sweeping tax cuts and adopt evidence-based solutions.