Accra, Jan. 28, GNA – Government will stay focused on public engagements on the 1.75 per cent Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) and work to get their support.
Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Deputy Information Minister, in an interview with Ghana News Agency on Friday, said: “The Nana Akufo-Addo government is not bothered about the town hall meetings organised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to criticise the proposed E-Levy.”
“We are not distracted by whatever engagement the NDC is having in opposition to this e-levy because at the end of the day, we have the core responsibility to explain the policy to Ghanaians and also educate the public. Whatever they are doing on the other side is up to them.”
She said government was committed to ensuring that Ghanaians understood the e-levy and the benefits it would bring to the country.
The Government, on Thursday held a Town Hall meeting in Koforidua to explain the importance of the E-Levy to the country’s development and take their feedback.
Meanwhile, the NDC, on Monday, held a Town Hall meeting in Kumasi to declare its stance against the E-levy and why Ghanaians should resist it.
However, Madam Abubakar said government would engage the people in various forms to make Ghanaians accept the levy.
Though there were no plans for another town hall meeting after Thursday’s event, government would use other forms of engagements, especially at the local level, to discuss the levy, she said.
Dr. Kobby Mensah, a Political Marketing Strategist, who described the town hall meeting as the most effective mode of political communication, called on the parties, especially the NPP and NDC, to make the citizens part of their conversations.
“It is good for political parties to speak to topical issues, however, it is incumbent on them, especially the NPP and the NDC, to go to the people to have that simple conversation for their understanding.”
GNA