Ghana collected more non-oil tax revenue in 2025 despite abolishing several taxes, including the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said, arguing that stronger tax administration and compliance can generate more revenue than imposing higher taxes.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Dr. Forson said the government’s tax reforms were designed to restore investor confidence, support businesses and households, and improve domestic revenue mobilisation without introducing new taxes.
“Government collected more taxes in 2025 even after abolishing the nuisance taxes, including the E-Levy,” he told Parliament.
According to the finance minister, non-oil tax revenue rose by 0.5 percentage points of gross domestic product (GDP), increasing from 12.6% of GDP in 2024 to 13.1% in 2025.
The government abolished what it described as nuisance taxes, including the E-Levy, betting tax, COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, emissions tax and VAT on motor insurance. It also undertook what Dr. Forson described as the first comprehensive value-added tax (VAT) reforms since 2015 to remove distortions, improve efficiency and strengthen compliance.
He said the reforms had left businesses with more working capital to invest, expand operations and create jobs.
Beyond tax policy, Dr. Forson said the government introduced major customs reforms powered by artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to strengthen compliance, reduce revenue leakages and improve tax collection.
“Since the introduction of the AI-powered customs reforms, monthly customs revenue has increased by approximately 17%, reflecting stronger compliance, more effective enforcement and significantly reduced leakages,” he said.
The finance minister also said the government had ended what he described as the misuse of the Tax Refund Account, ensuring that resources intended for legitimate tax refunds were no longer diverted for other purposes.
Dr. Forson attributed the increase in revenue to improved policy implementation rather than higher taxes.
“The lesson here is simple. Better policy, stronger compliance and smarter administration will always deliver more sustainable revenue than higher taxes,” he said.
He said the government’s broader fiscal strategy seeks to restore investor confidence, revive private enterprise, provide relief to households and businesses, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation through improved tax administration rather than introducing additional tax measures.
