Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has emphasised that the 2026 Budget brings long-awaited tax relief to Ghanaians, arguing that the removal of burdensome levies marks a major policy shift from the previous administration.

Wrapping up the debate on the budget, he said the elimination of the E-Levy and the COVID Levy demonstrates the government’s commitment to easing the financial pressures on citizens.

“You said the economy would collapse without e-levy. We removed e-levy and the economy is even doing better,” he noted.

Mr Ayariga told Parliament that removing the 1.5% withholding tax on gold sales is expected to significantly expand Ghana’s small-scale mining economy by encouraging transparency and reducing smuggling.

“This budget marks a shift from an economy burdened by taxes on the sale of your hard-earned gold to an economy where you are free to sell your gold,” he said.

He added that the reforms reflect a government that listens and responds to the needs of ordinary people.

He further explained that the tax reforms are helping to stimulate economic activity, broaden the tax net and restore confidence among businesses.

According to him, the current administration has replaced punitive taxation with strategic incentives to drive growth.

“We are promoting an environment where people can work, innovate and contribute without being overburdened,” he argued.

Mr Ayariga contrasted this approach with what he described as the previous government’s overreliance on aggressive taxation to fill revenue gaps created by waste and mismanagement.

He asserted that prudent spending, not excessive taxation, is the real foundation for economic stability.

“Bloated, opaque and corrupt expenditures are no longer the order of the day,” he emphasised.

Concluding, the Majority Leader reiterated that the 2026 Budget represents a major turning point in Ghana’s fiscal policy.

“This is a people-centred budget,” he said. “It frees families, frees businesses, and sets Ghana on a path to sustainable growth.”