The New Patriotic Party has declared full backing and support for the proposed e-levy, stating that it will offer Ghanaians an opportunity to generate homegrown revenue that may be expensive on international market.
According to the party, an IMF or any other bailout at a time where the entire world is recovering from the devastating effects of the covid 19 pandemic on the global economy will be extremely difficult and expensive.
The proposed ‘Electronic Transaction Levy’ or ‘E-levy’ has generated debates in recent days, following the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement to Parliament by Minister of Finance Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, on November 17, 2021.
The debate on the E-levy’s justification, fairness, and utility is at an impasse, and positions have become topics of interest.
At a press conference held on Wednesday to address concerns about the controversial e-levy, the National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoah, said the party remains focused on supporting the government rebuild the economy.
“The NPP remains focused on supporting the economy back unto a sound footing. It is in the above context therefore that the Nana Akufo Addo-led government proposes a home-grown opportunity to rebuild the nation’s pocket and that is the e-levy: a tax based on our sense of community and contribution” Mr. Asamoah emphasized.
The 2020 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, is reported to have indicated that the party remains opposed to the imposition of the 1.75% levy on all electronic transactions on Ghanaians. According to him, the tax will neither be viable nor adequate.
However, Mr. Asamoah indicated that the party finds former president Mahama’s stance rather myopic. “To say at this stage that the e-levy is neither adequate nor viable seems rather myopic. Of course, he is entitled to take advantage of the situation in parliament but he needs to come to the quick realization that the new normal is a far cry from what he knew and experienced before.”
