E-levy must achieve its purpose

Dear Editor,

After the hue and cry, the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) has been implemented and it may stay with us for a long time. I doubt the suit by the Minority in Parliament at the Supreme Court would even change anything.

When it took effect on May, 1, 2022, many of us started feeling the deductions being made on our mobile transactions and we cannot even smile about it.

The Ghana Revenue Authority had said it would take a closer look at the system, following complaints of ‘inconsistency’ in the rates charged per transaction by some members of the public. I look forward to reading their findings.

My concern, however, is whether the country has, indeed, moved from a ‘taxation economy’ to a production/manufacturing economy’ as promised by our political leaders. From all indications, we are far from reaching that target as the government seems to continue identifying ‘taxable avenues’ in order to rake in revenue.

I believe leaders are elected to improve the lives of citizens not make it worse, but that does not seem to be the case in our country.  The financial burden on citizens continues to increase each day with no corresponding increase in income. The less we talk about unemployment, the better.

All the same, we have been told that proceeds from E-levy would help address our economic challenges. A lot of people have high expectations and I need not say more. Citizens, including myself, are hoping that whatever income would accrue from the levy must be channelled appropriately for the benefit of all.

Bless Fianko,

Teshie – Agblezaa.