Ghanaians have been told by the Akufo-Addo government that their taxes are working. This promise comes after Parliament approved the e-levy on Tuesday, March 29, following a walkout by the Minority.
Following the clearance, Mr Kwame Jantuah, an energy expert and private legal practitioner, stated that the government had not earned the trust of Ghanaians by demonstrating that the revenue expected to be generated from the e-levy implementation will be used wisely.
He stated that the administration will have to work hard to earn the people’s trust and confidence.
On Friday, April 1, he said on TV3’s New Day show with Berla Mundi, “I feel sad for government communicators,” adding, “One thing I believed they would do is to start establishing confidence in the people of Ghana.” Right now, it’s like they’ve won a trophy because they haven’t developed the confidence.”
However, the Presidency demonstrated how taxes are used to improve the country in a short film.
President Akufo-Addo signed the Electronic Transaction Levy (e-levy) bill into law on Thursday, March 31.
After the minority staged a walkout, the proposal was approved by a one-sided Parliament on Tuesday, March 29.
On Wednesday, March 30, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said that deductions will begin in May of this year.
The Controller and Accountant General (CAGD) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who will be the revenue collectors, have assured him of this.
He told TV3’s Roland Walker in Parliament after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nation Address, “We had some meetings with the Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and they have said right at the beginning of May they should be able to put their system together.”
The signing comes as the House Minority is suing the Attorney General in the Supreme Court over the bill’s passage.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu called the approval illegitimate and unconstitutional, claiming that the Majority lacked the necessary votes to pass it.
At a news conference in Parliament, he declared, “This is a sham,” adding, “There is no E-levy.”
“The majority of the 137 enterprises that were open solely conducted unlawful and unconstitutional activity.” He continued, “Parliament lacked the numbers to make any decision that would bind Parliament and Ghanaians.”
