In Ghana, several businesses have long complained that the compounding taxes introduced by the government are having dire consequences on their operations.
Despite these complaints, nothing has been done about it, and businesses have to deal with the burden.
Both foreign and local investors who cannot bear the high taxation have moved their businesses out of Ghana to neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo, among others.
Out of the 16 taxes paid, the most talked-about one is the COVID Levy. Ghanaians and businesses started paying the COVID Levy after the country was hit by the pandemic in 2020.
Post-COVID, five years down the line, Ghanaians are still paying this tax, and many say it has outlived its purpose.
Another tax that the business community has labeled a nuisance is the Container Fumigation Tax.
The reason is that all costs and checks have been done at the point of loading; therefore, it is unnecessary for them to pay such a tax at the port.
The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, while speaking on GhanaWeb’s Ernestina Serwaa Asante, listed the 16 taxes paid by businesses in the country.
Below are the 16 taxes businesses are dealing with in Ghana:
Import taxes
Import VAT
ECOWAS Levy
Network Charge, Network Charge VAT, Network Charge COVID-19 Health
Ghana Shippers Authority SNF Fee
Import NHIL, Network Charge NHIL
GHS Disinfection Fee
MoTI – 1D1F Fee
Special Import Levy
Ghana Export – Import Bank Levy
Ghana Education Trust Fund Import
Network Charge GETFund Levy
Inspection Fee
African Union Import Levy
COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy
Container Fumigation Fees at the port
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
