Ride-hailing Drivers Protest Ghana’s New Tax

Ghana’s drivers push back against a new tax on commercial vehicles. The country’s revenue authority is set to implement a Vehicle Income Tax, slated to launch in January 2024, requiring drivers to pay quarterly taxes based on their earnings. Ride-hailing vehicles fall under “Class A” and will pay 12 Ghana cedis quarterly, totalling 48 GHC annually. Also, ride-hailing companies like Uber, Bolt, and Yango will need to verify drivers’ VIT compliance before allowing them on the platform. Drivers say the proposed VIT will put a strain on their already-burdened incomes, asserting that the tax should be paid by ride-hailing companies rather than individual drivers. The drivers accused ride-hailing companies of lowering trip fares despite consistent increases in fuel prices, negatively impacting their earnings.