By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says the controversial Electronic Transfer levy (E-levy) on mobile money transactions and other transfers will be part of his first budget presentation to Parliament by March 2025.
He said all things being equal, it would be scrapped by the first quarter of next year under his presidency.
The Electronic Transfer Levy Bill was passed by Parliament into law on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, amid protest by the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
The e-levy took effect from May 1, 2022 which sparked intense public debate and rejection in view of the economic hardship it placed on Ghanaians.
Some Ghanaians said the introduction of the e-levy by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government was a disincentive to the Government’s digitalisation agenda, championed by Vice President Bawumia.
The e-levy has since become a political campaign message with the two major political parties- the NDC and the NPP, both pledging to abolish it when in power in 2025.
It was on that score that Dr Bawumia, while addressing journalists during a media engagement in Accra on Sunday, emphasised his commitment to scrapping the e-levy under his presidency.
Dr Bawumia also gave the assurance that the new tax reforms, including the flat rate and the tax amnesty would follow immediately as part of measures to spur Ghanaian businesses to grow and create jobs.
He was of the conviction that the tax reforms would create an environment conducive for business to grow and create jobs for the teeming youth.
The NPP Flagbearer stressed that digitalisation would be a cornerstone of his government’s strategy to drive Ghana’s development and increase employment opportunities for the youth.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for businesses as a means to generate jobs.
He noted that one of his administration’s immediate priorities was to take bold decisions early to make significant impact on his economic transformation agenda.
Dr Bawumia re-affirmed his commitment to run a campaign focused on ideas and ensure that the NPP conducted itself in a manner befitting a democratic group.
He urged those threatening “brimstone and fire” to reconsider their actions and thus reminded them that such actions were un-Ghanaian.
More than 200 journalists and media practitioners drawn from the 16 regions took part in the media engagement and asked questions that bothered on some promises outlined in the NPP 2024 Election Manifesto and actions undertaken by the ruling government since it assumed power in 2017.
GNA