Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has proposed solutions to hush the National Democratic Congress about their opposition against the government's e-levy policy.
The e-levy, according to the Finance Minister, is to ensure all Ghanaians who engage in electronic transactions pay tax which is geared towards improving their living conditions.
The Minister, presenting the 2022 budget before Parliament, said; "After considerable deliberations, Government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the “Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy”
"Electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments and inward remittances will be charged at an applicable rate of 1.75%, which shall be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient. Mr. Speaker, to safeguard efforts being made to enhance financial inclusion and protect the vulnerable, all transactions that add up to GH¢100 or less per day (which is approximately GH¢3000 per month) will be exempt from this levy."
But members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) argue the policy will overburden Ghanaians.
While the NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George labels the e-levy as a ''ponzi scheme'', the North Tongu MP, also a leading member of the opposition party, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cautioned the government that the party will not allow themselves to be treated like ''kids...We will not allow Ghana to become a banana republic because of a few shenanigan lawbreakers".
However, Allotey Jacobs believes the NDC will shut up should the government do one thing.
He charged the government to try paying the Minority in Parliament with the e-levy, emphazing all their noises will be over.
"There is a whole lot of confusion and people are capitalizing on it. Just mere propaganda as if I'm not in power, so the government shouldn't progress. But if the government doesn't become successful, it affects us all . . . Pay them (NDC) with the e-levy, they will accept it," he said.
He also advised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to strengthen public education on the e-levy.
"The NPP . . . the best of their communicators either they have gone to sleep or maybe they're struggling for some positions, so none of them want to come on board. But you see, if you want to break the eight, you need to explain to the people. Let them understand in the simplest term."
Allotey Jacobs made these comments on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'.
Watch video below
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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SUCH RUBBISH FROM AN OLD MAN WHO HAS BENEFITTED FROM OUR TAXES WHEN HIS FORMER PARTY WAS IN POWER AND WHEN HE WAS THEIR REGIONAL CHAIRMAN.
TAX IS IMPOSED ON EARNINGS/INCOME/REVENUE OR PROFIT. WHY IMPOSSING ANOTHER TAX ON MY TIGHT TO MY GOD/ CHURCH ON MY NET SALARY FOR WHICH I HAVE ALREADY PAID AN INCOME TAX.
Currently the MTN CHARGED 1% ON TRANSACTION AND BEYOND GH1000 CAPPED AT GH10. THIS PRESUPPOSSES IF I SEND GH2000 OR GH3000 ON THE MTN PLATFORM , IN PERCENTAGE TERMS ,MY MOMO CHARGES WILL BE 0.5%, 0.3% RESPECTIVELY. THIS DRACONNIAN TAX OF IMPOSSING A WHOOPING 1.7% FLAT WILL ONLY REVERSE STEADY PROGRESS IN OUR QUEST TO DIGITALISED. IF I AM TO PAY MY MOM CHOPP MONEY, SUPPLIERS, TIGHT, CHURCH DONATION THROUGH MOMO AND I HAVE TO PAY TAX ON TIGHT , WHO IN HIS RIGHT SENSES WILL NOT OPT TO PAY WITH CASH. IT APPEARS PROPONENT OF THIS OBNOXIOUS TAX HAVE REALISED TELCOS ARE TAKING OVER THEIR BANKING BUSINESSES,THE BEST WAY OUT IS TO TAX MOMO APPARENTLY TO REVERSE TRAFFIC BACK TO THE BANKING HALL. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT SEND CHOPP MONEY , TIGHT ETC TO RECIPIENT EVERYDAY. IT IS ONE- OFF PAYMENT. THIS BLANKET ASSUMPTION OF MY TIGHT OF GH200 MONTHLY SHOULD TAX IS BACKWARD. TIGHT IS NOT DONE DAILY OF THE ASSUMMED FIGURE OF GH7*30DAYS IS NOT THE REALITY.
***barred word*** ***barred word***