Ghana has officially scrapped the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy following President John Dramani Mahama’s approval of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Repeal Act, 2025. The move brings an end to the 1 percent levy that was applied to goods, services, and imports at the peak of the pandemic.
The repeal marks a major relief for consumers and businesses that have long argued the levy had outlived its purpose after emergency COVID-19 measures ended. The tax, introduced in 2021, was designed to help the country recover from the financial shocks of the pandemic and support health-related expenditure.
With the President’s assent, the levy is now officially off Ghana’s tax regime, meaning businesses will no longer charge the additional 1 percent on transactions captured under the previous law.
Government officials say the removal of the levy is in line with efforts to reduce the cost of living and ease the tax burden on households and enterprises.
The repeal has been widely welcomed by trade groups, importers, and ordinary consumers who expect slight reductions in the prices of goods and services. Some economists, however, note that while the removal is positive, its overall impact on inflation may be modest given broader economic pressures.
The scrapping of the COVID-19 levy adds to ongoing reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the economy and easing financial strain on citizens.