President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major policy shift on imported medical equipment, stating that Ghana will no longer grant automatic tax waivers for healthcare imports.
The decision marks a significant change in the country’s approach to tax exemptions and healthcare investment, with future requests now expected to go through a strict case by case approval process.
Where was the announcement made
The President made the announcement during the commissioning of a state of the art PET CT scan facility at the Sweden-Ghana Medical Centre in Accra. The newly launched facility is expected to improve cancer diagnosis and advanced medical imaging services in Ghana and across West Africa.
Speaking at the event, President Mahama explained that institutions importing specialised medical equipment could still apply for tax relief, but approvals would no longer be automatic.
According to him, government intends to ensure greater accountability and proper assessment before exemptions are granted. He assured healthcare providers that applications linked to critical medical services would still receive favourable consideration.
The announcement comes as Ghana intensifies efforts to reduce revenue losses associated with broad tax exemption policies. Analysts and policymakers have repeatedly raised concerns about the financial impact of blanket tax waivers on the national economy.
Recent reports indicate that Ghana loses billions of cedis annually through different forms of tax expenditure. The policy direction is also seen as aligning with the country’s Exemptions Act, which seeks tighter controls over tax incentives granted to businesses and institutions.
Despite the tougher approach to exemptions, President Mahama stressed that the government remains committed to expanding specialised healthcare infrastructure across the country.
He described the PET CT facility as a transformative investment that could reduce the need for Ghanaians to travel abroad for advanced diagnostic procedures. For years, many patients have sought cancer scans and specialised treatment in countries such as India, South Africa and the United Kingdom due to limited local facilities.
The President believes the new centre can help position Ghana as a regional medical hub within the ECOWAS sub region. He expressed optimism that patients from neighbouring countries including Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso could eventually travel to Ghana for specialist diagnostic services.
The facility is expected to strengthen early cancer detection and improve treatment monitoring. Medical experts say PET CT technology allows doctors to identify diseases at the cellular level, making diagnosis more accurate and improving patient outcomes.
Under which facility would it operate
President Mahama also revealed that the centre would operate under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, commonly known as MahamaCares, to support eligible cancer patients with treatment and diagnostic costs.
Cancer treatment remains financially difficult for many households in Ghana. The President acknowledged that serious illnesses continue to push several families into financial hardship, reinforcing the need for expanded healthcare support systems.
Beyond the PET CT project, government says additional investments are underway to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide. President Mahama disclosed that new catheterisation laboratories have already been procured for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He added that plans are progressing for the construction of regional hospitals and cardiology centres to reduce pressure on major referral hospitals across the country.
The policy announcement has already triggered discussions among healthcare investors, importers and medical institutions. While some industry players may worry about higher operational costs, others believe stricter oversight could help reduce abuse within the exemption system and ensure tax relief delivers real public value.
