The Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has welcomed the government’s decision to scrap the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, calling it a “nuisance tax.”

Appearing on Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, November 29, Jackson expressed his pleasure at the development, arguing that the levy was punitive and unfair.

“This was a nuisance tax. I am pleased they took it away,” he said.

If you remove betting tax and E-Levy, where will revenue come from? - Joe Jackson to Mahama

According to him, the levy had outlived its purpose and was rather a burden on all Ghanaians, especially the disadvantaged.

“COVID is now a memory for us. A levy called COVID-19 has no business being on the tax book. Throw it out! This tax didn’t discriminate. It hit the disadvantaged harder than the wealthy,” he declared.

His remarks came days after the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, in presenting the 2026 Budget, officially announced the abolition of the levy.

The move forms part of broader reforms to Ghana’s Value-Added Tax (VAT) system aimed at easing the tax burden on households and businesses.

Parliament also ratified the repeal on November 26, 2025, a decision set to return approximately GH₵3.7 billion to consumers and enterprises in 2026.

The minister explained that the VAT reforms, including the removal of the COVID levy, would make the tax structure simpler, more efficient, and more business-friendly, helping to lower costs and stimulate growth.

ID/AE