The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, , has criticised the Akufo-Addo-led government for the introduction of the COVID-19 tax. Speaking at a town hall meeting on Monday, August 12, 2024, he expressed concern over the persistence of the tax that was introduced by the government to manage the economic challenges brought by the pandemic. According to a report by adomonline.com, the former president wondered why the country was still burdened with taxes over a pandemic that has passed. John Mahama explained that Ghanaians who endured and survived the pandemic are now being unfairly taxed. "Ghana is the only country I know that is still being taxed for a pandemic that has passed," he stated. He explained that the COVID tax, a value-added tax introduced by the government to increase revenue, remains in place despite political parties' promises to abolish it.