Scrap Obnoxious E-Levy – Dr. Apaak, Arise Ghana Tell Gov’t

Pressure is piling on government to withdraw the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) imposed on Ghanaians, following recent revelation that the state is raking in only 10% of estimated revenue barely two months after implementation.

Many Ghanaians, including the opposition parties have been against it since the introduction, insisting the levy will not favour the poor.

The latest to renew the call for removal of the E-levy is Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak and organizers of pressure group, Arise Ghana.

According to the MP, he does not see the essence of continuing with the collection of the levy since it is not yielding the needed result the government had projected.

In a statement copied The Anchor, the lawmaker said, “Kudos to the good people of Ghana for refusing to be exploited by the corrupt and unaccountable Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government via the obnoxious, regressive, unjustified E-levy foisted on them. I pray more Ghanaians will avoid paying E-Levy.

“We gave humane options of raising revenue, they refused: plug revenue loopholes at the ports; stop tax exemptions, pass the law to that effect; act on findings of the Auditor General; cut down on none critical expenditure, luxury travels, legacy projects,” the MP disclosed in a statement.

He continued: They arrogantly and capriciously cancelled road tolls, spent our money holding predetermined city, town and village hall fora/meetings, largely, feeding themselves, their party people, while blocking out genuine critical voices.

“They claimed Ghanaians supported E-Levy, and, we were pushing propaganda when it was obvious the opposite was true. Now the verdict is clear, the masses have rejected E-Levy. They forced a donkey to the river but can’t force it to drink H2O.”

Dr. Apaak further stated that the NDC remains opposed to the E-Levy

“Ghanaians agree with us and have spoken loudly as the figures from the revenue from the E-Levy so far show, GH₵ 60 Million instead of GH₵ 600 million, that E-Levy is not acceptable to the people as a revenue mobilization measure.

“It’s time they put their egos and arrogance aside and withdraw the rejected E-Levy. It’s only a fool who doesn’t change his/her mind, they should consider the humane options we proposed. As suggested by John Dramani Mahama, call a national forum on the national economy, let’s find acceptable solutions.”

Meanwhile, after a peaceful march from the El-Wak Sports Stadium to the ministries area, the Arise Ghana protestors presented a petition to the Finance Ministry and Parliament demanding action to address the cost-of-living crisis and unpopular government policies.

The protestors in the petition called for the electronic transfer levy to be scrapped, interventions on petroleum price hikes and action on growing unemployment, among others.

It also cited concerns with the potential re-introduction of the Agyapa deal.

Receiving the petition at the Finance Ministry, a deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Opare, assured that the government was working to address some cost-of-living concerns.

Mrs. Osei-Opare also reiterated the government’s stance that the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic had contributed to Ghana’s economic struggles.

She said the government had started meeting with stakeholders “to see how best we can address the economic  situation that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the War Ukraine war.”

The deputy minister further assured that they were working to “make sure that as a government we will come out with policies and programmes that address the issues that have been raised here today.”

At the Parliament of Ghana, the petition was received by the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who said, “we have noted the concerns that you raised including matters relating to taxes, and reclassification of the Achimota forests.”

Currently, Ghana’s inflation has jumped to the highest levels in almost 20 years, with the prices of essential goods and services rising by almost 50 percent in some cases.

Annual inflation stood at 13.9 percent at the beginning of 2020, but has shot up to 27.6 percent in May.

Source: theanchorghana