Former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has launched a blistering attack on the ruling National Democrati
Former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has launched a blistering attack on the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the government of hypocrisy over its fiscal policy—particularly its handling of taxes and levies.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Friday, Dr. Amin Adam accused the NDC of misleading Ghanaians with what he described as cosmetic tax cuts, only to burden them with hidden and more costly levies, notably the controversial GH¢1 Dumsor Levy (D-Levy) on a litre of fuel.
According to Dr. Adam, although the NDC made fanfare of abolishing some minor taxes, those cuts amounted to less than GH¢5 billion in lost revenue.
In sharp contrast, he stated that the newly implemented D-Levy, alongside adjustments in electricity tariffs and petroleum taxes, is projected to rake in over GH¢5.7 billion annually.
“This government, in abolishing taxes, was giving you something with their left hand, only to take it back with their right,” he stated. “And not just what was in your hand but what was in your pocket too.”
A Pattern of Political Gimmickry?
The criticism by Dr. Adam comes against a broader backdrop of growing public discontent over the rising cost of living, which has been exacerbated by utility price hikes and energy sector charges.
Introduced under the guise of debt recovery for the energy sector, the D-Levy has become a flashpoint in political and civil discussions across the country.
Civil society organizations and opposition groups have slammed the levy, calling it regressive and burdensome to lower-income earners.
However, the government maintains that the D-Levy is a necessary measure to stabilize the energy sector and ensure uninterrupted power supply—something past governments, including the NPP during its time, also struggled to address sustainably.
Dr. Amin’s Record and Context
Dr. Amin Adam, a key figure in Ghana’s economic management under the former NPP administration and a close ally of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has built a reputation for advocating fiscal discipline.
During his time as Finance Minister, he championed targeted social interventions and youth employment programs in the Northern Region, particularly his home constituency of Karaga.
His comments in Parliament reflect a broader political strategy by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to expose what they see as policy inconsistency and populism in the NDC’s economic agenda.
Political Messaging vs. Economic Realities
In 2023, the NDC, then in opposition, heavily criticized the NPP for introducing the now-defunct Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy), which was widely seen as a burden on digital finance.
Upon assuming office in January 2025, President Mahama’s government quickly moved to repeal the E-Levy, winning public praise.
However, within months, the administration introduced the D-Levy, sparking accusations of political bait-and-switch tactics.
Dr. Adam’s statements aim to spotlight this perceived inconsistency. “All the taxes they abolished did not give us five billion cedis,” he emphasized.
“But the D-Levy alone, with petroleum and electricity adjustments, is expected to bring in more.”
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