body-container-line-1

E-Levy won’t bring about any negative changes in consumer behaviour – Communications Minister

Politics Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
JAN 27, 2022 LISTEN
Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said claims the implementation of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) will have a negative impact on consumer behaviour are false.

Following the announcement of plans by the government to introduce the levy, Minority in Parliament has mounted a spirited opposition.

Among the concerns raised, many have said the levy is retrogressive and will undo the gains of the government in its digitalisation agenda.

There has also been the argument that people will be discouraged from making financial transactions electronically particularly through Mobile Money.

Speaking at the Government Townhall meeting on the E-levy proposal in Koforidua on Thursday, January 27, 2022, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stressed that those claims have no bases.

She said, “The notion that consumers will stop using electronic transactions because of this levy is not true. I dare say that based on our experience from the communications service tax and lessons from other countries, we are confident that the E-Levy will not bring about any negative changes in consumer behavior as electronic transactions borders on convenience, safety, security that we can enjoy.”

According to the Minister in charge of Communication, the NDC despite their opposition to the E-Levy will never abolish it should the party come to power in the future.

She alleges that the umbrella party has always been against every good initiative of the NPP hence it comes as no surprise that the party is fighting government on the newly introduced levy.

“Despite the NDCs opposition to the communication service tax, they never repealed it when they were in power, they didn’t even reduce the rate of the levy. They also complained and rejected the national health insurance when it was introduced in Parliament and actually walked out, they complained about the capitation grant, they have issues with free SHS, ridiculed the discovery of oil as well, they always oppose every initiative that will ultimately benefit the Ghanaian people but our collective experience shows that they themselves admit that despite initial opposition to many of these intervention, it is proven to be worth their wait,” Ursula Owusu-Ekuful shared.

Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo
Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo

JournalistPage: EricNanaYawKwafo

body-container-line