John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised Ghanaians that if elected president, he will do away with the one percent Electronic Levy (E-levy).
He reiterated that the levy was a burden while speaking at the University of Ghana’s 75th New Year’s school event.
“This is an inequitable tax, it’s not fair and prevents people from the uptake of moving towards a cashless society and so when NDC comes we would remove that tax,” he said.
Mr. Mahama had previously stated that while the NDC is against onerous levies like the E-levy, they are not against the idea of taxes in general.
The controversial levy was put into effect by the government on May 1, 2022, despite strong opposition to the tax plan.
Following multiple demonstrations organized by the opposition party, its MPs, and certain civil society organizations, the levy was lowered from 1.75% to 1.5%.
The 1.5% tax on mobile money and other electronic transactions was supposed to bring in about GH¢7 billion for the government, but that amount was later reduced to roughly GH¢4 billion.
The government maintained that the levy was a burden-sharing measure to support domestic revenue generation rather than relying on foreign aid, despite the NDC’s criticism that it was counterproductive and double taxation.
Former President John Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the NDC will abolish the 1% electronic levy and subsidize the cost of data for public institutions.#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/k5Y1CPGNTp
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 11, 2024
Meanwhile, new presidential aspirant, Nana Kwame Bediako known as Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar, has vowed to transparently declare his assets ahead of independent presidential bid.
In an interview with TV3, the businessman and philanthropist, Kwame Bediako was asked who was funding his New Africa Foundation, in response, he said at the right time he would reveal the people sponsoring his political ambition.
“We belive that the political principles or the chronicles that constipate together to make or build a government should be transparent. It should be something that the people are aware of and they are in control,” Nana Kwame Bediako said.
He continued, “If there are any donations or support, I will transparently declare it meaning that if people come genuinely help me and support me, that’s what I am going to do.
