NDC youth wing pressurises govt to drop E-Levy

The youth wing of the National Democratic Congress has resolved to pressurise the government to drop the proposed Electronic Levy, popularly referred to as E-Levy.

Consequently, it has decided to stage a demonstration today dubbed “Yentua Demonstration” to protest against the passage and implementation of the new tax as proposed in the 2022 budget statement.

The Ghanaian Times has gathered that at least thousands of demonstrators are expected tohit the streets of Accra today to protest against the new tax.

A highly placed source at the Police Service told the Ghanaian Times that the police were set for the demonstration tomorrow.

According to the source, the Service had made available enough personnel and logistics for the exercise. 

He said the Accra Regional Police Command and the leadership of the programme had met to discuss to ensure a successful exercise.

The police source urged the demonstrators to collaborate with the police in ensuring a peaceful demonstration.

Meanwhile Fix the Country, a pressure Group has in a release sighted by the Ghanaian Times expressed its commitment to join the NDC youth wing in the demonstration tomorrow following a proposal from the youth wing.

“In light of these, we think that the time has come for us to build a multi-sectoral and non-partisan coalition against the E-Levy,” the statement added.

The statement encouraged all actors and political parties to continue to oppose the E-Levy.

The E-Levy is a new tax measure that will be applied only to the originator of a transaction on an electronic platform.

Electronic platforms include the following; platforms, online banking and mobile money.

The value of the E-Levy is 1.75 per cent.

Government, through the Ghana Revenue Authority, will collect the E-Levy in collaboration with the Telcos, Fintechs and Financial Institutions.

BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI