Momo Tax: Bawumia’s views remain same

The Technical Advisor to the Office of the Vice President, Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama has reacted to public questions seeking to find out if the position of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia concerning the Momo tax has changed in the wake of the introduction of e-levy.

According to him, until the Vice President say otherwise, his earlier views about taxing mobile money transactions remain the same.

Dr Kabiru gave the responds on GTV’s current affairs programme, Weekly Press Review on Friday, March 8, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

He noted the Vice President’s views doesn’t have to change on the matter since his personal views are not the views of the government.

“My views don’t need to change when something is a law if am against anti-guy laws and the country pass the law protecting the right of guys it is my duty even as a citizen to respect that law. The Vice President views on issues, personal views when expressed it becomes known until he says the otherwise those are his views,” Dr Kabiru said.

“Am saying that any view expressed by any person including e-levy becomes the views of the person unless otherwise stated,” Dr Kabiru emphasized when quizzed if the views of the Vice President has changed.

Vice President is obliged to respect e-levy law- Kabiru

He however added the Vice President’s earlier view regardless he is obliged to respect the e-levy since it has now been passed into law.

“However, if any law comes suggesting that the view you hold is not the position of the law, you are oblige to respect that particular law and as a Vice President, he should be the number one and he is the number one person to respect that law,” Dr Bawumia’s Technical Advisor said.

‘I don’t think we should tax momo’ – Bawumia

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia while speaking on Accra base Peace FM in August 26, 2020 said mobile money is usually used by the poor hence it will not be prudent to tax them.

“No, the point is that we are not taxing mobile money and it is for me, my view is that we should not tax mobile money because mobile money transactions, a lot of the people who are using these transactions are very poor people. You know someone will just send ₵5, why would you want to tax that”.

However, nearly two years down the lane, the government which he is Head of the Economic Management team has introduce a e-levy seeking to tax 1.5% on e-transactions, mobile money inclusive.

The levy is however applicable on all transactions above ₵100 and senders only raising questions of if the Vice President have change his earlier views concerning it.

The levy, have been widely opposed by Ghanaians, many of whom are of the view, it will bring untold hardships.

That not withstanding, Parliament has passed the bill and subsequently assented by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo into law.

E-levy implementation is expected to commence early next month.

Source: GhanaPlus.com