E-Levy: Bawumia’s Position Has Never Changed – Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Explains
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information, has articulated the position of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on the issue of E-Levy.
The Minister, speaking on Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo”, defended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party, who in outlining his vision to Ghanaians should he become President emphasized that he will abolish E-Levy.
Delivering his policy statement and priorities to Ghanaians in Accra on Wednesday February 7, 2024, Dr. Bawumia said abolishing the e-levy which is tax on mobile money transactions will boost his bid for a cashless society.
“To move towards a cashless economy however, we have to encourage the population to use electronic channels payment. To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore, be abolished”, he declared.
But some critics find this pledge contradictory and a betrayal of his government as it is the Akufo-Addo administration, under which Dr. Bawumia is the Vice President, that introduced E-Levy.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta admonished Ghanaians to pay E-Levy (Electronic Levy) giving reasons it will help the government generate revenues towards road and infrastructure development.
Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was asked by the host of the morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi, why the Vice President would promise to abort the E-Levy.
The Minister, in his reply, cleared the air on Dr. Bawumia’s position on the matter.
According to him, the Vice President has always and consistently been very explicit on not supporting the E-Levy and his promise to cancel it is line with his principle.
He explained that the E-Levy coming into force despite Dr. Bawumia being against it in principle was to meet a requirement and that requirement has been satisfied, hence, to the Vice President, as part of his measures to build a digital economy; it is prudent for him to abolish the electronic tax.
“His position is never changed…and today, consistent with his position, he is explaining that, when he comes into power, it is no longer an advice from him”, Hon. Oppong Nkrumah remarked, adding when Dr. Bawumia becomes President, he will hold the executive power under Article 58, so stressing “E-Levy is off the books”.
He also emphasized the E-Levy will be cancelled under the Bawumia government “because the conditions that led to it, the fiscal programme we run to bring about these things is going to be different from January 25 and his position on it is well-articulated. And he says again that he wants to build a digital economy, an economy where we will make use of a lot of electronic payment”.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
