OPPONG NKRUMAH JUSTIFIES COVID-19 LEVY, CITES ECONOMIC REALITIES

Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has defended the government’s introduction of the COVID-19 levy, insisting it was necessary to stabilize Ghana’s economy in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah rejected claims that COVID-19 funds were misused, stressing that the government faced extraordinary fiscal challenges during the 2020 lockdowns.

“Some are claiming that we spent the COVID money without accountability. Let me explain. Ghana’s economy revolves around what we call the ‘Golden Triangle’, Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi. During the lockdown, these regions, which generate the bulk of government revenue, were shut down. For a month, there was almost no revenue coming in,” he said.

He explained that while other countries like the United States rolled out direct support schemes for citizens, Ghana focused on paying public sector salaries and providing relief measures such as free water and electricity. Attempting to raise taxes during that period, he argued, would have been impractical since “it would have taken a year to see any meaningful revenue.”

Addressing the introduction of the COVID levy, the former minister emphasized its role in preventing economic collapse.

“When the debt burden rose, we had to go to the IMF because the economy was hit hard. That’s why we introduced the COVID levy to stabilize the situation. Now, the NDC came to power promising to remove it, but they have not. Why? Because it continues to help the economy,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said.

He welcomed President John Mahama’s admission at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York that the pandemic had set the global economy back by two decades, describing it as long-overdue recognition of the challenges Ghana faced.

“I’m happy the President acknowledged that COVID-19 set the global economy back by 20 years. We spent money to revive Ghana’s economy, but at the time, people used it against us politically. It is only fair that the truth is recognized,” he noted.

The former minister also questioned President Mahama’s consistency, recalling that while in opposition, the now-president had downplayed the pandemic’s global economic impact.