It is usually an economy in crisis, when the government starts to tax the very vulnerable in society. The government has through the minister of Finance, announced the introduction of 1.75percent E-Levy.
The minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who disclosed this when he presented the 2022 Budget last week Wednesday, speaking on Accra-based Asaase Radio, said “Through the levy [E-levy], government is able to do about a billion Cedis each year for three years. Through the agreements that we’re having with some donors and international financial institutions, we get another 2 billion for this effort. In speaking with the partnership of the banks, we are getting a certain amount of their loans into this SME which will be about 5 billion. So together we’ve been able to put together a 10 billion package to support the youth towards entrepreneurship”
In the considered opinion of this Newspaper, the E-Levy, under a different circumstance is a good idea, but the percentage to be charged and the timing of its introduction does not present the government, as one that understands the pulse of the nation.
It is instructive to note that, service providers, whose platform the charge is to be levied, especially the biggest telecommunication company in the country, MTN, charges one percent for sending or withdrawing MOMO transaction, yet the government who is only a regulator wants to 1.75percent.
Since the coming into office of the Akufo-Addo government in 2017, they have introduced some nail biting taxes and borrowed so much, yet they is nothing to show for it.
Ghanaians cannot be asked to pay more to finance the opulence lifestyle of the president, who has refused to listen, despite concerns raised by well-meaning citizens about his use of luxury private jets.
It needs to be underscored that, every time the government has come to the people asking for more money, the excuse has been that, they need money for development, when they have not been able to account for what they have collected.
Corruption has been the bane of development of the country, not additional taxes.
