Accra, 11 October 2025 — The Importers & Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) is demanding the government scrap the 2% Special Import Levy and the COVID-19 Levy, declaring both have outlived their relevance and continue to burden Ghana’s importers.
In a recent interview on Off the Lens (OnlineTimesGH), IEAG Executive Secretary Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit challenged the current tax regime as unfair, urging authorities to reverse the separation of the GETFund and NHIS levies from VAT.
“The 2% Special Import Levy should go. The COVID-19 Levy should go. Realign the GETFund and Health Insurance levies back into VAT. When you decouple them, you increase the cost of doing business,” Awingobit asserted.
“If your invoice is ₵100,000 – first add import duty, then 15% VAT, then GETFund, then NHIS — the cumulative cost is painfully high.”
He explained that in previous tax regimes, those levies were part of VAT, which resulted in a simpler and more transparent tax structure. The current setup, he said, places multiple layered charges that inflate costs and discourage investment. Online Times
Calling on the government to honor promises of fiscal reform, IEAG emphasized that the administration must act decisively and consult with stakeholders across the trade sector before implementing any new tax measures.
“We stand ready to sit with the Ministry of Finance and shape a structure that balances revenue with trade growth,” he affirmed.
About IEAG
The Importers & Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) is a leading trade advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the interests of Ghanaian importers and exporters. Through policymaker engagement, capacity building, and trade representation, IEAG remains a steadfast voice for equitable trade, economic stability, and private sector sustainability in Ghana.
