On 17th November 2021, the minister for finance announced during the presentation of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy of Government to the Parliament of Ghana, the introduction of “Electronic Transaction Levy” or “E-levy” of 1.75% on electronic transaction above GHS 100 per day to take effect from 1st January 2022.
Since the minister made mention of such word, “E-levy,” most Ghanaians are agitating about whether it is a good alternative or not. Per my little research, results shows most of the Ghanaians especially the youths including men and women (aged) are heavily and deadly against such approach by the government.
They oppose the levy for the fact that times are hard currently in the country. Should government introduce this E-levy, it will be a burden on the citizens. Moreover, others made suggestions that there are no jobs country as it stands. The youth are not the only group complaining about livelihoods, traders are also worried about the slow-pace of their businesses.
In my opinion, i agree with them, why? This is because if measures were put in place and structures were in the right orders; the government through the finance ministry and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) could have tracked and sanction businesses who evade taxes.
Mind you that the finance minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta expressed concerns on the number of Ghanaians paying direct tax to the government. Delivering the 2022 budget statement presentation on the floor of parliament, he said, “only 2.3 million Ghanaians out of the total population of 30.8 million were paying taxes.
I contend that these levies are not used for their intended purposes. In 2008, communication Service Tax (CST) was introduced at a rate of 6% of the charge for communication usage. Meaning the CST is levied on charges for the use communication services that are provided by electronic service providers. So if i may ask, What important thing has been done with the money? From 2008 till date if nothing good has been with that money then what important achievement can the E-levy do for us?
Corruption has been a scar on this nation and had government taken bold steps to fight this canker seriously like they promised us in 2016 without fear or favour, E-levy would not have been a problem or the talk in town. Also, our lawmakers would not have wrestled in the August house.
Should the Prez. Akufo-Addo-led government start to prosecute offenders who have in any way illegally milked state or stolen from state coffers, enough money could be retrieved for development of the nation-state.
Every government which comes into power acts as a shield to protect its officials( ministers MP’s CEOs et al) and in the end even if one were caught engaging in such act or offence, he or she would walk a free person. Total waste of taxpayers money!
To end, most Ghanaians are opposing against the Electronic Transaction Levy, popularly known as E-levy. So therefore government should immediately scrap such alternative because it will be a burden on the vulnerable people in the country.
E-levy is a killer! It must be killed before it kills us!
Shalom!
