The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has issued a scathing statement condemning the Mahama administration’s decision to retain the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, accusing it of backtracking on a key campaign promise.

The organisation said the reversal amounts to a profound breach of public trust and a dismissal of the socio-economic suffering Ghanaians continue to endure.

During the 2024 general elections, President Mahama, then the NDC presidential candidate, declared unequivocally that the COVID levy was unnecessary and would be scrapped under his leadership.

The CDM emphasised that this promise was not a passing remark but a major talking point of his campaign, giving hope to many who were grappling with rising costs and economic pressure.

The group further noted that the justification of IMF obligations for the policy reversal is unacceptable, pointing out that good governance requires more than technical explanations—it demands integrity and accountability.

Quoting both the Constitution of Ghana and international agreements, the CDM maintained that maintaining the levy, especially post-pandemic, is inconsistent with the government’s duties to its citizens.

In conclusion, the CDM called on the government to immediately outline steps to abolish the levy, apologise to the public, and recommit to ethical governance.

“The axe forgets; the tree remembers,” the statement read, urging the President to choose integrity over political convenience and prove worthy of the trust placed in him by the electorate.