Parliament has officially passed the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, bringing an end to the COVID-19 levy introduced under the Akufo-Addo administration to support pandemic-related spending.
The repeal follows the announcement by Finance Minister Ato Forson during the presentation of the 2026 Budget, where government committed to eliminating the levy as part of efforts to boost household incomes, relieve businesses, and accelerate economic recovery.
Debating the repeal motion, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin welcomed the decision but urged government to go further by implementing broader tax relief measures to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians.
Government explained that abolishing the levy forms part of a wider Value Added Tax (VAT) reform agenda, aimed at creating a more transparent, equitable, and growth-oriented consumption tax system.
The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy was introduced as part of fiscal measures to mobilise additional revenue to support the Country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to facilitate economic recovery in the aftermath of the crisis.