Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor in the political science department of the University of Ghana, has said the manner in which the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) was passed is an affront to consensus building in Parliament.
His comment comes after the Minority announced plans to challenge the passage of the bill in the Supreme Court.
“The manner in which the E-levy was “passed” is a serious affront to the quest for consensus-building in a Hung-Parliament that promises to remain with us, at least, until the end of 2024. We may be set for a more show-down if things don’t change,” Gyampo posted on Facebook.
Parliament passes E-Levy after Minority walkout
Parliament has passed the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) by a vote of MPs from the Majority Caucus of the House after the Minority staged a walkout.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said his side still opposes the E-Levy, hence the walkout.
Iddrisu urged President Akufo-Addo to withdraw the E-Levy Bill from the House because, he said, the Minority will not have anything to do with the controversial tariff.
Earlier, Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance, had said the government has decided to reduce the basic E-Levy charge from 1.75% of the value of the transaction to 1.5%.
He said the government had reached this decision following engagements with various stakeholders undertaken by the government.
Moving for the E-Levy Bill to be read for the second time in Parliament today (Tuesday 29 March), Ofori-Atta announced: “… the government has also decided to reduce the rate of the levy from 1.75% of the transfer to 1.5% of the transfer.”
He argued that the object of the E-Levy Bill is to widen the national tax base by imposing a levy on electronic money transfers. The levy will also enhance the government’s drive for revenue mobilisation, he said.
Missed start date
The Finance Minister had proposed a state date of 1 February 2022 as the implementation date for the new levy.
Presenting the 2022 Budget in Parliament in November last year, Ofori-Atta said: “This new policy comes into effect from 1 February 2022.
“The government will work with all industry partners to ensure that their systems and payment platforms are configured to implement the policy.”
“Minority stance misplaced”
Ken Ofori-Atta described the stance on the Electronic Transaction Levy taken by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as misplaced.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on the levy in Takoradi in the Western Region, Ofori-Atta said the number of people paying tax towards development is woefully inadequate.
“So I think the NDC’s stance about not having the E-Levy may be misplaced …
“It is not because they are not patriotic, but when we do the numbers you will realise that clearly, we are at a point in our nation’s history that we need to do things differently,” Ofori-Atta said.
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