The government of Ghana has been told to, as a matter of necessity, cancel the implementation of the E-LEVY.
This push has arisen following the government’s decision to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bailout.
In a statement signed by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the government announced its decision to go for an IMF bailout as a measure to support the ailing economy.
An excerpt of the statement reads:
“The engagement with the IMF will seek to provide a balance of payment support as part of a broader effort to quicken Ghana’s build back in the face of challenges induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and, recently, the Russia-Ukraine crises.” read more HERE.
Following that, Ghanaians are calling for the government to cancel the controversial E-LEVY.
Before the implementation of the E-LEVY, the government decided against going to the IMF for a bailout to support the economy.
It had been argued that E-LEVY was a better way of mobilizing funds than going to the IMF for a bailout which would come with terms and conditions.
On the back of government’s fresh decision to go for an IMF bailout, Ghanaians have asked for the E-LEVY to be cancelled immediately.
Social media has been awashed with pleas where Ghanaians believe that in the true spirit of accountability and probity, the E-LEVY policy should be cancelled and all deductions refunded immediately.
@DonYussif commented: We for cancel every political policy… FSHS, Nabco, planting for food and jobs and all the policies which doesn’t yield us any economic benefits oo.
@KofiApaa wrote: It’s a difficult one tbh but I think it should be reduced to a negligible percentage eg 0.5% – 0.75% hopefully that would encourage more use of MoMo transactions. Ghana has a small tax base.
@kwameoasante wrote: But correct me if I’m wrong; one of the reasons why the E Levy was introduced was to make us not go back to IMF. So if the government is going back IMF why keep E Levy? I think we have a problem with management and structure.
@kofipapa99 wrote: It was a failure from the beginning…the service providers charge 1 percent and at a flat rate after 1000 cedis transaction…but e levy want 1.5 percent on any amount ..how can this work
