Remove E-levy for peace to reign – GUM tells Gov’t

The founder and 2020 flag bearer of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Mr. Christian Kwabena Andrews, has beseech government to withdraw the proposed electronic transaction levy to ensure peace and harmony.

According to him, Ghanaians are already suffering hence government should create jobs to address the teaming unemployment issues instead of taxing them any further.

Mr Andrews made the call at a press conference held in Accra on Tuesday, December 28, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

“I am entreating Nana Addo and his ministers, for peace and harmony to reign in this very country, he needs to come out and tell Ghanaians that the e-levy matter, he has removed it from Parliament,” Mr Andrews said.

“Give people work to do, employment, instead of taxing those who are poor already,” Mr Andrews added.

 Gov’t of Ghana introduce Momo Tax

There has been seeming tension in the country following the government of Ghana’s  announcement of of a proposed electronic transaction levy in  its 2022 Budget Statement presented by the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, November 17.

The levy, seeks to tax a 1.75% on mobile money transaction above ₵100 and applicable to senders only.

Announcing the levy, Mr Ofori Atta said the initiative 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, the levy has received stiff opposition from Ghanaians, the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) and the Minority in Parliament.

They maintained the levy will bring more hardships.

Already two separate physical fights have taken place in the country’s Parliament all because of the e-levy.

A group led by the political activist and former Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah have also embarked on a demonstration about same.

Source: GhanaPlus.com