Sunyani, (B/R), Jan. 31, GNA – The government e-levy has received varied reactions from residents in the Bono Region, with some of them calling for a drastic reduction in the proposed rate of 1.75 per cent.
Few of the residents also insisted on the scrapping of the proposed levy, saying its passage would worsen the condition and over-burden Ghanaians.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, a cross-section the residents said they were unhappy with the introduction of the e-levy in the face of the current difficult economic situation.
“The introduction of the e-levy is a recipe for disaster because it would likely collapse the mobile money business because many people would not transact business electronically,” Akua Mary, a food vendor at the Central Business District (CBD) of the capital, told the GNA.
She pleaded with the government to rescind its decision on the e-levy in the supreme interest of petty traders and ordinary Ghanaians.
Madam Faustina Kowfie, a retailer, urged the government to suspend the levy, for now, saying it would have a huge toll on small scale businesses and petty traders.
However, Mr Emmanuel Addai, a dealer in stationeries, lauded the introduction of the levy and called on the government to reduce the percentage.
“If we yearn for development, then we must embrace the e-levy because it is only through taxation that the government can provide the needs of the people”, he said.
In his view, Mr Samuel Okyere, a shoe dealer, said telecommunication companies ought to pay more of such taxes and asked the government to consider the plight, listen to the majority of the people and suspend the levy.
“In fact, the e-levy is going to frustrate businesses. Taxation is not bad, but the government must have other alternatives rather than the e-levy because it is clear many Ghanaians are strongly against it,” Nana Kwesi, a dealer in second-hand clothing stated.
Meanwhile, some of the residents said they did not understand the e-levy and called for intensified public education on it.
GNA