General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has expressed his disappointment at the vigorous attempt by the government to have Ghanaians accept E-Levy and possibly have it passed by parliament.
He says their desperate attempt clearly shows that it is a government that lacks ideas to generate revenue for the development of the country.
On November 17, 2021, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced the introduction of a 1.75% tax on all electronic transactions during the 2022 Budget Statement presentation to parliament.
According to him, this new directive forms part of strategies to widen the country’s tax net.
He added that the 1.75% tax is also to enhance financial inclusion and protect the vulnerable in the country.
The E-Levy since its announcement by the Finance Minister has received public backlash from some Ghanaians especially Members of Parliament from the Minority Caucus.
At a recent press conference, the Minister outlined a number of modifications to the Bill and announced that the government continued to engage stakeholders on the bill ahead of resubmission to Parliament.
But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Mr. Asiedu Nketia has government to render account of monies collected from previous taxes, loans and bonds before going to Ghanaians about the E-levy.
"The Auditor General's report has made us to understand that there is over 6 Billion Ghana cedis with institutions and individuals that government can go for and use it for developmental projects and the others that the E-levy seek to do. You can't waste money willfully and come back to tax the already suffering Ghanaian through E- Levy," he added.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia also cautioned the government about its continuous use of the luxurious private jet.
He explained that President Akufo-Addo's selfish desire and quest to fly luxuriously is also causing a drain on the already suffering public purse.
"The amount of money this government is spending on this luxurious travels can be channeled to other areas of the economy. But how do you expect to generate income when you are lavishly consuming the little left.
"I think this government does not have a clear mind and immediate solution for the mess they find themselves in, however, our position on the E-levy remains the same, we stand by Ghanaians and will continuously oppose this draconian tax," he said.
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IMF Isn't An Option- Ken Ofori-Atta
Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has ruled out suggestions that Ghana should consider going International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bail out
He says Ghana returning to an IMF-regulated programme, won't augur well for the country.
The government of Ghana is seeking to pass the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy Bill, E-levy as Parliament has resumed for the second session of the 8th Parliament.
Ken Ofori-Atta, at the government’s town-hall meeting to discuss the E-levy on Thursday, 27 January 2022, said, the passage of the E-levy will save the country from falling back on the IMF for financial assistance, which, he said, would be disastrous.
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]
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