Accra, March 29, GNA – The Minority on Tuesday staged a walkout in Parliament during the consideration of the contentious Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) at the second reading stage.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader before the walkout said: “Mr Speaker, the minority led by me will not be associated with any further proceedings of the E-levy.”
The second reading of the levy saw the bill being adopted at the reduced percentage of 1.5 per cent from the initial recommended rate of 1.75 per cent.
The bill has undergone consideration by a Majority house, following the Minority’s boycott.
Members of the Majority are also deliberating on some proposed amendments to the bill, which has been introduced by the government.
The E-levy is a new tax measure introduced by the government in the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions.
Critics of the proposal, including the Minority have warned that the new levy will negatively impact the Fintech space, as well as hurt low-income persons.
The government has, however, argued the levy would widen the tax net as it could raise an extra GH¢6.9 billion in 2022.
GNA