Audio By Carbonatix
The government will not introduce any new taxes in the 2020 fiscal year, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta noted while reading the 2020 budget.
Instead, Ken Ofori-Atta said the government would restructure the tax system and develop a comprehensive revenue policy and strategy to address the challenges of revenue mobilisation.
This will involve lending the necessary support to the Ghana Revenue Authority to boost revenue collection in order to meet its revenue targets, he noted.
“We will take radical policy and institutional reforms towards raising our tax-to-GDP ratio over the medium term from under 13 percent currently to around 20 percent. The focus will be on efficiency and base-broadening rather than imposing new taxes on our people and businesses. This way, we can raise our domestic contribution to our ambitious transformation agenda, in line with the Ghana Beyond Aid vision,” he said
Mr Ofori-Atta noted, however, that although the Communications Service Tax was recently increased from 6% to 9%, the overall direction regarding the burden of taxation on Ghanaians, has been overwhelmingly downward in the last three years.
"We promised to move the economic policy away from one focused on taxation to one focused on the production and we have done just that over the last three years," he said.
He added that in line with the government's policy, Parliamentary approval would be sought to ensure that the 12 per cent minimum wage increase for 2020 is tax-exempt.
"Personal Reliefs such as marriage relief, child education relief and old age relief which were last adjusted in 2015, will also be reviewed upwards, consistent with government commitment to support families," he said.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Abolish or Reform? Abu Jinapor counsels sober reflection on debate over future of Special Prosecutor’s Office
4 hours -
2026 World Cup: Can Ghana navigate England, Croatia, and Panama in Group L?
4 hours -
NAIMOS task force arrests 9 Chinese illegal miners, destroys equipment at Dadieso
5 hours -
NAIMOS advances into Atiwa Forest, uncovers child labour, river diversion and heavy machinery
5 hours -
NAIMOS Task Force storms Fanteakwa South, dismantles galamsey operations
5 hours -
The Kissi Agyebeng Removal Bid: A Look at the Numbers
6 hours -
DVLA to roll out digitised accident reports, new number plates and 24-hour services
7 hours -
DVLA Workers’ Union opens 2025 Annual Residential Delegates Congress with call for excellence, equity and solidarity
7 hours -
Scholarships Secretariat sets December 8–9 interviews for Commonwealth Scholarship applicants
7 hours -
WASSCE decline reveals deep gaps, there’s need to overhaul education system – Franklin Cudjoe
8 hours -
JOY FM Drive Time host Lexis Bill leads fans up Aburi Mountain in energetic ‘Walk With Lexis’ fitness experience
8 hours -
2026 World Cup: Ghana to open campaign in Toronto against Panama
8 hours -
President Mahama, Lordina support retired Assemblies of God pastors, widows with medical care and Christmas gifts
8 hours -
2025/26 GPL: Nations FC fight back to claim 2-1 win over Heart of Lions
9 hours -
Tanzania responds to international criticism over October post-election events
9 hours
