The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has called on Ghanaians to accept the Electronic financial Transactions (E-Levy) tax.
He stated that the government needs money to implement policies aimed at improving the lives of Ghanaians.
The Minister said it was not prudent for government to continue to take loans to execute programmes and projects, hence the introduction of E-Levy.
Mr Ofori-Atta made the call at the Tamale Town Hall Meeting on E-Levy yesterday.
The Town Hall Meeting is being organised by the Ministry of Information in collaboration of Ministry of Finance in order to woo people to accept the E-Levy policy yet to be introduced.
It formed part of government’s efforts to explain the importance and need for the E-levy.
The forum also received feedback and inputs from the public and relevant stakeholders.
The E-levy is a new tax measure introduced by the government in the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions.
Mr Ofori-Atta hinted that government intends to reduce the proposed 1.75 down to 1.5 percent
He mentioned that the E-Levy would help reduce unemployment in the country as it would lead to job creation.
The Minister assured the public that government would account to Ghanaians the revenue that would be generated from the introduction of E-Levy.
He emphasised that the E-Levy when implemented would go along way to enhance and improve Free Senior High School policy which was benefiting every school going child in the country.
MrOfori-Atta reiterated that the government would not go back to IMF but they would do everything possible to generate the money to develop the country.
MrsHawaKoomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, on her part entreated Ghanaians to support the government to fix the poor roads in the area by accepting the E-Levy.
She stated that the E-Levy would enable the government to mobilise enough resource to work on the roads and provide hospital and jobs for youth of the country.
Mr Hassan Tampuli, Deputy Minister of Transport, said the Planting for Food and Jobs would halt if they fail to implement E-Levy.
AlhajiShaaniAlhassanShaibu said President NanaAddoDankwaAkufo-Addo would not introducea policy that would impoverish the people and that the E-Levy would position the government to deliver on its mandate.
Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, explained that E-Levy was necessary because of COVID-19.
EnFROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE
