A friend of mine called me the last time just after the passage of the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) Taxation Bill on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 by parliament and wanted a confirmation from me about what transpired in parliament on that day because he was not in town that fateful day.  His words were, “Editor, I am not at home, but I heard that the E-Levy bill has been passed by parliament without the involvement of the Minority side of the House.  What happened and can you brief me about how it happened?  I am so saddened because if this is true, then Ghanaians are finished.  It will worsen the plight of the already suffering people of this country.”

E-LEVY AND HOW IT AFFECTS PENSIONERS

Another colleague senior journalist, now on retirement, also called, shortly after I had finished talking to the first caller to discuss with me how the E-Levy might affect the electronic transactions of the meagre pension allowance of pensioners under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Pension Scheme.  According to him, since the pension payment involves electronic transactions through the banks, it was obvious that SSNIT would pay the approved 1.5 per cent levy from the beneficiaries’ entitlements to the banks and in cashing the money from the banks, pensioners would also pay another 1.5 per cent, thus bringing the total taxation to three (3) per cent.That, he believes amount to double taxation of the poor and vulnerable pensioner.  Based on our discussions and the fact that I have no knowledge about this financial transaction, I have asked an official of the Public Affairs Department of SSNIT to come out and educate Ghanaians about the whole transactions regarding the payment of pensions through the banks which is mandatory.

To the first caller, I explained to him how the bill was smuggled into the chamber under a Certificate of Urgency by the Majority side of the house because it was not part of the Order Paper for that day’s proceedings.  The Minority side led by its leader Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, obviously angered, questioned the rationale behind the majority side’s motive to pull such a surprise saying “the E-Levy did not find expression in the business statement”.  These were the words of the Minority Leader, “We have time and again warned and cautioned that we never want to be taken by surprise on a major economic policy bill of government and we will not accept that culture”.

MINORITY WALK-OUT IN PARLIAMENT

After returning from a 30 minutes break, the Minority, however, boycotted the chamber, cautioning that they did not want to have anything to do with the E-Levy debate and its subsequent passage.  What was funny about the entire process was that whilst the Member of Parliament for Domi-Kwabenya, Madam. Adwoa Sarfo, was absent from the chamber because she had travelled outside the country, the NPP side carried an ailing member, the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Mr. Ebenezer Kojo Kum, in an ambulance which was parked outside the chamber in their quest to make up the numbers in time of voting for the passage of the E-Levy bill.  That seemed ridiculous and amazing because we cannot sacrifice the health of an MP for that advantage. The NDC Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson, who was embroiled in a court case concerning his nationality, was also not present in the chamber, making the NDC caucus to run short of a member and perhaps that was the reason the NDC caucus walked out of the chamber.

 DEALING WITH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS

It is a fact that the economy of our country is seriously descending into the abyss and if care is not taken we will have serious crisis on our hands.  The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Pierre Larporte, in his recent lecture, made it clear that the economic situation in Ghana was very serious.  According to him, Ghana faces a tough time to restore macro-economic sustainability.  He alluded to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had not helped Ghana but noted that even before the pandemic, there were signs that the situation was getting a little bit challenging and advised the government to be transparent with the people.  Aside the World Bank Country Director’s sentiment, a number of good and great economists in our country keep making constructive and concrete suggestions that will help us out of our present predicament, but because of politics, their pieces of advice seemed to be ignored and are not being utilised by government to bring the needed economic recovery.

THE UNBEARABLE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

Today, every Ghanaian can attest to the fact that our nation, Ghana, is in the state of total mess and confusion.  Those at the helm of affairs are, indeed, not doing what is expected of them and the country continues to sink.  The current hardships are unbearable and most Ghanaians are finding it difficult to make ends meet.  Prices of goods and services across the country continue to soar high each and other day, with inflation at the highest level. The Cedi continues to depreciate and has lost value completely as against the dollar.  The majority of the citizens find themselves in the poverty bracket while unemployment rate keeps growing.

Indeed, we cannot run away from the fact that the on-going Russian-Ukraine war has further heightened the economic hardship of this country and all other nations that depend on these war-torn countries for their major requirements.  Like the President rightly alluded, even though Ghana is not directly involved in the war, issues unfolding, are having a severe impact on our economic activities.  Our agriculture and construction sectors are feeling the greatest impact from the terrible conditions in Russia and Ukraine.

SELF-INFLICTED HARDSHIPS

However, it is important to state that the hardship being experienced by the people cannot be placed wholly on the on-going war in Russia and Ukraine.  Most of these problems are self- inflicted and can be handled by ourselves.  The extravagant lifestyles of some of our ministers and those in high positions of authority must be seriously checked.  While those in authority expect the people to tighten their belt in the face of the economic challenges, some of them live affluently, riding in the most expensive cars such as V-8, Landcruisers, Mercedes Benz among others. Besides, the corruption in most of the public institutions in our country which is causing the nation to lose huge sums of money, should be dealt with so that the nation can rake in the needed and necessary revenue to prosecute its developmental goals.

For over five months now, the passage of the controversial E-Levy bill by parliament has been a mirage because Ghanaians were apprehensive and also of the opinion that its passage would affect their living conditions and deepen the woes of the already suffering people and push the unemployment rate high. However, the government feels that without the E-Levy, it cannot address the challenges of the country.  Indeed, whether we like it or not, the bill has now been passed and Ghanaians would expect the government to use funds generated to address the economic challenges and bring the nation on a sound footing as it has promised.

GIVING GHANAIANS A HEARING

It is important to remind our various governments that without the people, they cannot rule or govern this nation.  That is why it is necessary and prudent to always give the people a listening ear whenever they make their input in the governance of this our dear nation.  It will be suicidal if governments try to force their ideas in whatever forms down the throats of Ghanaians to suffocate them.Ours, is a democratic rule not a dictatorship governance where people are forced to swallow the pill no matter how bitter it would be.  Yes, the economic challenges are enormous but we must resolve as a team to deal with them squarely to bring our dear nation back on track.

Contact email/WhatsApp of author:

ataani2000@yahoo.com

0277753946/0248933366

By Charles Neequaye