Carlos Ahenkorah, Chairman of Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee, has urged Ghanaians who do not want to pay the 1.75 percent e-levy not to use electronic transaction services.
Mr. Carlos Ahenkorah emphasizes that the fee is not mandatory and that those who do not like to pay are free not to utilize platforms that demand payment of the levy.
One of the major concerns in the 2022 budget announcement has been the introduction of the e-levy.
Many Ghanaians have urged the administration to rethink such a decision. They contend that the levy is punitive.
For example, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has said unequivocally that it would oppose the e-levy in its entirety.
It said that it would fight the tax in whatever form since it will cause greater hardship for Ghanaians.
In response to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s recent announcement of concessions on the 2022 budget, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu remarked on the floor of parliament on Tuesday [December 6, 2021] that the tax would, among other things, undermine Ghana’s attempts to create a digital economy.
“It is true that we engaged. We were part of the engagement, but at that engagement, regrettably and unfortunately, on the matter of e-levy we could not have agreement and consensus.”
“We believe that the e-levy is punitive, and will undermine our quest to grow a digital economy in seeking to tax transactions.”
However, the Tema West MP supported the imposition of the charge in a Citi News interview.
According to him, paying the tax is optional, and anybody who does not like to pay should refrain from using the MoMo service.
“I have always been saying that the momo tax is a compulsory tax. You only pay when you use it, when you don’t use it, you don’t pay. If you think it is expensive, there is no other procedure for making payments that will be equal to MoMo. So what we are saying is that the tax is targeted at those who have the ability to pay not those who are receiving.”
“So if you are receiving it is okay to go and negotiate with the person who has gone to the bank to borrow money to be a MoMo agent to pay money out. Otherwise, keep the money on your phone, and you don’t owe anyone any money.”
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SOURCE: CITINEWS
