Eat the humble pie, drop e-levy – NPP’s Elvis Botah tells Gov’t

The Deputy National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Elvis Banoemuleng Botah has advised the government to drop the proposed electronic transaction levy, popularly referred to as e-levy.

 Speaking on Pan African TV’s Good Morning Africa on Thursday, February 18 monitored by GhanaPlus.com, he said power emanate from the people as such if many of Ghanaians has expressed their unhappiness with the levy then it must be dropped.

“…..If power indeed emanate from the people and majority of people represented in parliament says no to e-levy, why can’t government also eat the humble pie to drop it. May be reconsider it and come again with other views for consideration. This shall be my advice on this,” he said.

Mr Botah noted government should rather focus on sealing the hoop holes in the systems responsible for the millions of tax payers monies lost in the various state institutions across the country.

Gov’t of Ghana introduce Momo Tax

The government of Ghana  is seeking to tax Ghanaians some 1.5% on electronic transactions, mobile money inclusive.

The policy was part of the government 2021 Budget Statement presented by the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, November 17.

The levy, initially pegged at a 1.75announced is expected to be taxed on all transaction exceeding ₵100.

The tax, the minister said is to help widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector into the country tax system.

“After considerable deliberations, the government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the “Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy”, Mr Ofori-Atta told Parliament.

However, since the announcement many Ghanaians, including the Minority group in Parliament have vehemently kicked against the tax.

Already, two physical fights have been recorded in Parliament all because of the e-levy.

Again, once enviable friendship between the Speaker and the Majority leader of Ghana’s Parliament also seem to have been affected by the proposed tax even before it is passed.

Series of demonstrations have also been held against the levy, one of such, the Yentua Demo was held in Accra recently

Source: GhanaPlus.com