President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government will no longer grant blanket tax exemptions for imported medical equipment, stating that future requests will be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
The President made the announcement on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during the commissioning of a positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET CT) scan facility at the Sweden-Ghana Medical Centre in Accra.
Responding to appeals from operators of the facility for tax concessions, Mr Mahama explained that the era of automatic tax exemptions had ended.
“In Twi, we say when someone climbs a good tree, you push them. Regarding tax exemptions, blanket exemptions are no longer granted. It is on a case-by-case basis,” he stated.
He, however, assured stakeholders that applications for exemptions on specialised medical equipment would still receive favourable consideration where justified.
“If you order any medical equipment, you can apply for exemption on that equipment, and I can assure you that we will look at it very favourably,” he added.
Under the Exemptions Act, 2022 (Act 1083), tax exemptions require prior written approval from the Finance Minister before they can be granted.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Ghana lost approximately GH¢4.6 billion to tax expenditures in 2023, while the World Bank estimated the total cost of tax exemptions at 3.9 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama described the newly commissioned PET CT facility as a major boost to Ghana’s healthcare system, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
He explained that the technology would enable doctors to detect diseases earlier and monitor treatment outcomes more accurately.
“Today’s event is not merely the unveiling of a machine. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s healthcare journey anchored in innovation, accessibility and renewed hope for our people,” he said.
The President noted that many Ghanaians have historically travelled abroad for specialised diagnostic services due to limited local facilities, often at significant financial and emotional cost.
According to him, the new facility would help reduce the need for overseas referrals and improve confidence in Ghana’s healthcare system.
Mr Mahama also expressed optimism about positioning Ghana as a hub for specialised medical diagnostics within the West African sub-region.
“I envision people coming from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and other ECOWAS states to seek specialist medical diagnosis here in Ghana,” he stated.
He further encouraged private investors and professional bodies to support government efforts by investing in advanced healthcare infrastructure.
The President also announced that the PET CT facility would operate under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, to assist eligible cancer patients with diagnosis and treatment costs.
“The treatment and diagnosis of cancer can be very expensive. Many families are impoverished when a member of the family is afflicted by cancer,” he noted.
Mr Mahama additionally disclosed that government is expanding specialised healthcare infrastructure nationwide, including the procurement of catheterisation laboratories for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He added that plans are also underway to construct regional hospitals in the newly created regions as well as cardiology centres aimed at reducing pressure on referral hospitals across the country.
