Don’t scrap the COVID-19 Levy; redirect its use for the free dialysis initiative - Expert

Revenue & Financing Fellow, Geoffrey Kabutey Ocansey, has advised the Mahama-led administration not to scrap the COVID-19 Levy.

He has proposed that the government repurpose and rename the COVID-19 levy and redirect its use for other purposes.

Speaking to Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he posited that the COVID-19 levy should be redirected for the use of the free dialysis initiative.

He noted that although the government promised to scrap some taxes, the COVID-19 levy must stay.

“I am appealing to the government not to scrap the COVID-19 levy. They should rename it and repurpose it. What the COVID-19 levy was introduced to do has been achieved. But we can repurpose and redirect it. One would ask how we can redirect the levy. We can redirect it for the use of the free dialysis initiative. We can use the money for the free dialysis because it is faced with challenges.”

He also believes the revenue collected from the COVID-19 levy could be used to complete the Agenda 111 hospital projects and any other health-related infrastructure.

He stated that we could consider removing it or sustaining it after four years since by then, we would have achieved a lot with the levy.

Ocansey underscored the need for the Minister-designate for Finance, Dr. Ato Forson, to deal with waste and compliance issues if he is approved as the minister for the ministry.

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