In reaction to the elimination of the betting tax and e-levy, the administration led by John Dramani Mahama may impose other taxes, according to Tano North Member of Parliament Dr. Gideon Boako.

Dr. Boako's remarks come after Finance Minister-Designate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said that the Mahama administration would eliminate these levies in its first budget and use spending cuts to make up the difference in income.

Dr. Boako voiced concerns in an interview with Citi News on the planned measures' compatibility with the budgetary policies that were agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He stressed that higher taxes would not be the best way to close the revenue shortfall and that such changes could upset the country's financial obligations.

“We don’t want a situation whereby you give with your left hand and you take with your right hand. They have to be explicit. If they are cutting the taxes, they cut the taxes, they don’t introduce any new taxes, you cannot cancel or scrap e-levy, scrap betting tax, and go behind and create another tax to fill the gap.

The only alternative is to enact a new tax through the back door to make up the difference if they really want to eliminate the e-levy, betting tax, COVID-19, and emission taxes. This will bring the debt service to revenue ratio in line with the IMF program and the debt sustainability analysis. They don't have any other space but that.