The Government, from all indications, is still bent on going ahead with the introduction of the E-Levy.
We say this because, the number of people and organizations, including Civil Society Organisations, that have asked the government to rethink the decision everyday and yet they still remain adamant.
They have been given excuses; it is now difficult to tell who can be trusted on offering the best explanation on the E-Levy.
The latest person to go out on the E-Levy is a former Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kofi Oppong Asamoah on the Class Morning Show on a myriad of issues, on Class91.3FM Tuesday, 8 February 2022, Mr Short insisted the government must listen to the view of Ghanaians.
He said: “I think the majority of Ghanaians from a survey that I read are against the e-levy and it is my view that government should listen to the views and opinions and voices of the majority of Ghanaians on this issue because I think majority of Ghanaians think that they will be adversely affected by the passing of this e-levy legislation since a lot of electronic transactions are done by quiet a sizeable number of Ghanaians.
“So I’m hoping the government will listen to the views of the majority of Ghanaians. I don’t think the views and argument the government has put forward for the e-levy have been supported by the majority of Ghanaians.”
It is pertinent to remind the government that it is in its best interest that this bill is withdrawn for proper engagement as suggested by the former president John Dramani Mahama, on the way forward to increase revenue mobilization.
Coming from such a highly placed public servant like Emile Short, it behoves the government to listen and hasten slowly.
The effects of passing the E-Levy on ordinary Ghanaians are already reeling under economic hardship, brought about the Covid-19 pandemic; pose a source of worry to the people who are compelled to live with it every day.
This newspaper is worried that there appears to be so much talk about the effect of not passing the E-Levy on the economy, which in itself sends a bad signal to investors. As they say money does not like noise.
The government owes itself the duty of mustering the political will to do the needful by listening to dissenting voices, who are only sharing genuine concerns about the progress of the country.
