Minority warns of 22.8% rise in taxes on goods and services
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam
The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) says taxes on domestic goods and services are projected to rise by 22.8% in 2027, increasing the cost burden on households and businesses.
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Member of Parliament for Karaga and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, said the Budget projects revenue from these taxes to grow from GH¢77.3 billion in 2026 to GH¢94.9 billion in 2027.
The projected increase exceeds the Budget’s forecast 13.2% growth in nominal gross domestic product, Dr Amin Adam said in the Minority’s critique.
He argued that this would mean Ghanaians pay more in taxes on goods and services even as the government says it will raise revenue without imposing new taxes.
The critique also questions differences between the Budget and the government’s Fiscal Strategy.
The strategy projected taxes on goods and services of GH¢101.5 billion in 2027 and GH¢131.4 billion in 2028, while the Budget puts the figures at GH¢94.9 billion and GH¢105.1 billion, respectively.
Dr Amin Adam said the Budget provides no explanation for the gaps.
The Minority warned that rising charges could add to the cost of living and operating businesses. It called on the government to explain the projections and clarify how the increased revenue would be raised.
