Features
E-levy mass education: Urgently required!!!
On Thursday, 31st March, 2022, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo signed the ‘controversial’ Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) Bill into law.
This was followed by its ‘controversial’ passage by Ghana’s hung Parliament on Tuesday, 29th March, 2022.
So, it is now a new law in our nation’s revenue generation books.
Being a brand new tax law which has generated a lot of nation-wide ‘heat’ and ‘misconceptions’, many Ghanaians hold the view that it must be properly and adequately explained to the mass of the people before its application.
According to the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the implementation of the E-levy begins on the 1st of May, 2022.
So, really the E-levy takes effect in May and it is expected that by that time, the Ghana Revenue Authority would have fully prepared to begin its actualisation process.
The E-levy now imposes a 1.5 per cent tax on a value of daily electronic transactions above GH¢100.
This new tax falls in the bracket of Mobile Money (MoMo), merchant transactions, bank transfers, all points of sale and inward remittances.
In November 2021, the Finance Minister announced Government’s plan to introduce the E-levy during the 2022 budget presentation to Parliament.
He stated that the E-levy was necessary to “widen the tax net” which would increase the country’s tax to GDP rate from 13 per cent to 16 per cent or more.
Contrary to the Government’s good intentions and positive predictions, critics say the imposition of the E-levy would derail the development of e-commerce in Ghana.
As the Government insists that the E-levy would be a ‘turn-key drive’ for Ghana’s ailing economy, especially with respect to the country’s high debt profile, a section of the Ghanaian populace have ‘saluted’ the new levy with disapproval.
For instance, the Opposition legislators in Parliament are still vehemently opposing the new tax , claiming that “it will exacerbate the country’s harsh living conditions” , besides bankrupting small enterprises.
Some protestors against the E-levy, calling themselves Coalition of Concerned Ghanaians also took to the principal streets of Accra and ended up in Parliament with a petition.
Other critics also say , the implementation of the E-levy would have negative impact on general businesses and impede the functioning of Ghana’s financial system and the real economy.
They argue that there would be a return to increased cash transactions and might ‘entice’ Ghanaians who do not have bank accounts, back to the old bad days of their financial exclusion.
Some analysts contend that the stance of the Opposition legislators on the E-levy, might have recently influenced many people to “panic-withdraw” their money from their mobile money wallets so that their funds could escape taxation.
Dr Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance lecturer at the Central University says:”The Finance Minister has promised Ghanaians that when the E-levy is collected, he and his Government will be accountable to the people. We will hold him responsible to that statement.
” The Finance Minister must be accountable to the citizens of Ghana on what and how the E-levy would be used for, to the benefit of our country”, stressing that “he must remain truthful to Ghanaians.”
A former Deputy Managing Director of the National Investment Bank, Mr Alfred Thompson, also contends that, “Ghana cannot continue to borrow funds from external sources to develop, therefore, the E-levy is timely to bolster the economy through revenue generation.
“However, Ghanaians must demand probity and accountability from Government when the implementation of the E-levy begins.”
Others are also asking the Government to boldly inscribe “E-levy” on every visible project that will be funded by the new tax and cited the inscription of “HIPC” on projects funded by the HIPC funds during President Kofuor’s regime.
The Government, however, assures that the new levy will hugely inure to the benefit of the country, emphasising that it will principally be used to support the country’s infrastructural development.
Indeed, this column supports the view that the Ministry of Finance should mount intensive series of country-wide mass education campaigns, using the appropriate mass media channels, communication specialists and tax experts to explain the new tax system to ease its understanding and application.
It is the contention of this column that failure to properly educate the mass of the people about the new tax will result in non-achievement of the purpose for which the tax was ‘crafted’ and the target set for its generation.
The Finance Ministry should, therefore, “invest ” adequately in the mass education of the people to whet their appetite to be ‘salivating’ to ‘taste’ the new ‘tax-soup’ with ‘style’.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
