Features
E-levy: Its relevance to technology
Even though E-levy has been passed by Parliament and given Presidential assent to make it a law in this country, its initial uncertainties that characterised its debate in Parliament made it look as if that law could never be passed.
Many people have argued that the levy is good and would help in the mobilisation of domestic financial resources for the country, other people particularly those in the minority in Parliament still continue to counter-argue that the E-levy is not good and should be scrapped.
SCRAPPING OF E-LEVY
Some members of the opposition have even indicated that if they are able to return to power in 2024, they will scrap the levy. This cannot be believed since the reality is that more domestic resources will be needed at any point in time to carry out socioeconomic development. There have been instances where similar arguments had been put forward in the past yet when the National Democratic Congress had the opportunity to come into government, they could not tamper with the programme they described as inappropriate. An example is the Health Insurance Scheme introduced by the Kufuor administration to promote quality healthcare for Ghanaians.
The NDC was in power from January 2013 to 7th January, 2017, but they were not able to tamper with the Health Insurance Scheme.
This shows that the opposition sometimes makes noise for political power but not to promote any meaningful socioeconomic agenda. It is in light of this that Ghanaians, no matter where they are in this country, ought to be careful about certain policies being promoted by government to promote their welfare.
TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS
It is important for every Ghanaian to note that the E-levy that has just been passed is fashioned along the direction of technology. The world is going technological in its activities and certain activities that were carried out in traditional forms or in form of face-to-face interaction are gradually becoming outmoded and, therefore, giving way to technological use and advancement.
Instead of carrying out money in bags and taking them to certain destinations to relatives and friends, technology has now made it possible for such remittances to be carried through technological means in form of MoMo for example. The good thing about the use of technology in this way is that it is fast and safe, preventing a situation where the sender can easily be attacked by armed robbers.
E-HEALTH
Again, in the world today, even medical care is gone technological so it is possible for patients to meet their medical doctors via Zoom for treatment. This is what has given way to e-health. The only aspect of medical care which may need face-to-face interaction is when samples of blood and other things may have to be presented physically for testing and analysis.
From the way things are going, the taxing of money transactions electronically forms only one of the aspects of taxation.
What this means is that all activities that are going technological such as e-health, e-pharmacy and e- agriculture and business provide fertile grounds for taxation by government. Many people also place orders from shops to have their goods delivered to them. In the same way, food ordered from restaurants are also delivered. All these are new forms of business transactions that call for taxation for use by the state. The world, including Ghana, is undergoing rapid transformation as far as electronic transactions are concerned. We cannot remain in our old fashion or way of doing things so the time has come for us to be able to adapt to the new ways of doing things especially in this era of the use of technology for trading.
MORE REVENUE FOR DEVELOPMENT
The E-levy as we know will bring in more revenue to enable government be able to undertake numerous projects for socioeconomic development. There is no doubt that ultimately it is the welfare of Ghanaians as a whole that will be enhanced or improved upon in this way. In light of all this, the E-levy is good and must be encouraged by every person in this country.
Having said this, however, the point must also be made that other sources of income to the state will have to be enhanced and intensified to enable the state carry out more developmental activities. Property rates for example ought to be taken seriously. People with houses and other properties ought to be encouraged to pay property rates so that we can see more development in this country.
PARKING TOLLS
Also, free lands or spaces can be turned into car parks. If this is done, parking tolls can be taken from all those cars that make use of such parking spaces. The end result will be more revenue for the state.
It is only when we go this way that the state will be able to pay and cater for unemployment benefits and free medical care as well as old age support for people who deserve them in this country.
ROAD TOLLS
In the same way, the road tolls that have just been scrapped ought to be brought back. If these things are done, national revenue will shoot up tremendously and make it possible for the state to support its citizens in various ways. For example, subsidies can be provided for farmers and other producers in the country who may need them.
It takes great thinking outside the box for a state to generate more revenue for its people. The population of Ghana (now over 30 million) needs to be provided for adequately by government through the establishment of a welfare system in the country. This is possible so let us move forward in unison as one country and achieve this as a national goal.
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
