By Daniel Bampoe
President John Dramani Mahama is under mounting pressure following his administration’s decision to maintain the controversial COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, a tax he vehemently promised to abolish in his 120 days in office.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organizations, most notably the Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM), which has accused the President of betraying public trust and violating constitutional principles of economic justice.
In a strongly-worded press statement issued on May 11, 2025, the CDM expressed “grave disappointment” over what it called a “profound breach of public trust,” arguing that Mahama’s failure to fulfill the promise undermines his credibility and the integrity of his government.
The COVID-19 levy, introduced under the previous administration as a temporary fiscal measure to support pandemic-related health expenses, was a hot-button issue during the last election cycle, eliciting a promise during the 2024 presidential campaign from Mahama to scrap it.
Mahama, then the opposition leader and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the scrapping of the levy one of his clearest and most consistent pledges.
“The COVID-19 levy is a needless tax. It must be abolished to ease the burden on the Ghanaian people,” he declared at multiple campaign rallies and interviews.
The promise resonated deeply with many Ghanaians, who were struggling with high inflation, increasing utility bills, and widespread economic hardship.
However, just months into his return to power, the Mahama administration has backtracked on that commitment, now citing Ghana’s obligations under its programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the reason for retaining the tax.
According to government sources, abolishing the levy would jeopardize ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts and strain budgetary support negotiated under the IMF deal.
This explanation has not satisfied critics.
The CDM contends that citing external pressure does not absolve the government of its responsibility to honour domestic promises.
The group also argued that the continuation of the levy, when the health emergency it was designed to address has long subsided, is unjustifiable.
They point to Article 36(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which obliges the state to promote economic well-being and provide a decent standard of living for all citizens.
The CDM further referenced Ghana’s commitment to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which requires state parties to deploy the maximum of their available resources to uphold economic rights.
“Maintaining a regressive tax that disproportionately affects the poor is incompatible with these international commitments,” the group said.
The statement concluded with a call to action, urging the government to present a roadmap for abolishing the tax, issue a formal apology to Ghanaians, and recommit to ethical governance.
The CDM warned that failure to do so would erode confidence in the administration and deepen public cynicism toward political promises.
Public reaction has been swift on social media and in political circles.
Opposition parties have seized on the controversy as evidence of what they describe as a growing pattern of inconsistency and disregard for campaign accountability.
The COVID-19 levy continues to be deducted on goods and services nationwide, and until it is formally reviewed or repealed, it stands as a reminder of the difficult balance between campaign rhetoric and the realities of governance.
