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Is It That You Don't Care About Ghanaians? - Kwamena Duncan Condemns NDC's E-Levy Opposition

Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan is at a loss to know why the Minority doesn't appreciate any good initiative by the incumbent government.

He wonders why they tend to oppose everything the government does even when it will help Ghanaians.

Kwamena Duncan was reacting to the e-levy proposal by the Finance Minister which has generated lots of controversies with the Minority, in particular, sharing a growing variance of opinions about it.

The e-levy, aimed at taxing all Ghanaians who engage in electronic transactions, was proposed before Parliament during the Finance Minister's presentation of the 2022 budget statement.

"After considerable deliberations, 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.' Electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments and inward remittances will be charged at an applicable rate of 1.75%, which shall be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient"

"Mr. Speaker, to safeguard efforts being made to enhance financial inclusion and protect the vulnerable, all transactions that add up to GH¢100 or less per day (which is approximately GH¢3000 per month) will be exempt from this levy. A portion of the proceeds from the E-Levy will be used to support entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, digital and road infrastructure among others. 3y3 Baako, Ye nyinaa bey tua. Mr. Speaker, this new policy also comes into effect (once appropriation is passed) from 1st January, 2022. Government will work with all industry partners to ensure that their systems and payment platforms are configured to implement the policy," Ken Ofori-Atta said.

The Minority argues this new levy will compound the plight of Ghanaians.

Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George describes it as a ponzi scheme stressing “it is plain government thievery & I cannot vote to approve a budget that has that levy included. No!”

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Joy FM's ''Top Story'' has also kicked against the policy saying "the E-levy, the MoMo tax, this budget is being called all sorts of names, the killer budget, (with) so many killer taxes. So they (the government) say that no tolls will be paid from immediate effect so that they can save face".

He added; “So that the bitter pill which they are forcing down our throats, Ghanaians will accept it. We are not kids, we know what is going on. We will not allow Ghana to become a banana republic because of a few shenanigan lawbreakers.” 

Kwamena Duncan, in reply, has questioned the rationale behind the Minority's opposition to the e-levy.

The Minority, he noted, are the same people who have been bitterly complaining about the government borrowing for infrastructure developmental projects in the country, so thought they would be happy that the government is proposing a good alternative to end that cycle.

''Government must not borrow. It's understood. But if government must not borrow, government must find the means to provide public services to do the infrastructure. Then government says that we want to get everybody on board to contribute these little, little, little sums to enable us get the resources to do the public service, you say no; that one too you will not agree.''

He wondered why the Minority cannot proffer solutions but wouldn't also allow the government to resolve the problem.

"Is it just that the Minority doesn't care where this country finds itself for as long as it is another group that is in office?'', he asked.

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