According to Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalization, the e-levy will not erode the gains made in digital transactions, as some have suggested.
She believes that the government will generate enough revenue from the e-levy to fund national development.
Speaking at the government’s first town hall meeting on the controversial tax in the Eastern Regional capital of Koforidua, she compared public reaction to the E-levy to the Communication Services Tax (CST), arguing that despite many criticisms and opposition to the CST, also known as the ‘talk tax,’ it was passed, and the results have been impressive.
She stated that, while she was initially opposed to the CST, she has now realized how beneficial it has been and is confident that the E-levy will follow the same path.
“Our collective experience shows that despite their initial opposition to many of these interventions [including the CST], they’ve proven to be worth the wait,” she said.
“I appeal to them [minority] to cooperate with government and work with us to pass this levy as well because ultimately, the result that we got from the Communication Services Tax, which clearly didn’t destroy the industry, will also be evident post-implementation of this levy as we all work collectively to enhance access to and use of digital platforms working with Ministry of Finance to ensure that digital financial services become the norm as we strive to become a cash-lite society.”
