In a desperate attempt to push for the acceptance of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy, the government has through the ministries of information, Communication and Finance embarked on Town hall Meetings to educate and solicit the views of Ghanaians on the E-Levy.
For most Ghanaians, this government, by its actions and inactions, had consistently and obdurately presented itself as about the worst in the Fourth republic.
Since 2017, the government keeps on riding roughshod on the people’s sensibilities by pretending not to know that it derives its very life and essence from the people who voted for them and who they mischievously claim to care about.
The finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in November last year presented the government’s 2022 economic policy to Parliament, in it was the imposition of 1.75percent E-Levy.
Critical stakeholders were not consulted or invited to make an input in the drafting of the budget, especially the decision to introduce the E-Levy.The lack of consultation was what has led to the stalemate, as from all indication the Levy will not serve the people.
As late in the day as it seem, the government has embarked on a nationwide Town Hall Meetings, after putting the cart before the horse to now, educate the public on the need for the E-Levy.
It is against this backdrop that this newspaper considers as misplaced the Town Hall Meetings, which is another avenue to spend and add to the public debt.
The Majority in parliament, should table the bill on the floor of parliament for consideration and a vote taken, after all the Members of Parliament (MPs), especially those on the majority side don’t represent the views of their constituents. They do their own thing on the floor of parliament.
From the grandstanding, it is obvious that only the National Democratic Congress minority in Parliament are against this broad day pick pocketing and thievery.
We are persuaded to suggest to the government to have a rethink and withdraw the E-Levy.Ghanaians are not ready for it.
