The electronic transaction levy, or E-levy, has supported Ghana’s Mobile Money Agents Association (MMAG) members.
In a meeting with His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Office of the President, Jubilee House, on May 10, 2022, the association’s General Secretary, Evans Otumfuor, told the government that the E-implementation levy would be supported by its members.
“Your Excellency, let it be recorded that our organization believes in the payment of taxes as a major tool to promote the necessary development and advancement and would not do anything that undermines the success of the E-levy,” the General Secretary said.
“Your Excellency, we recently heard about the government’s plan to introduce an electronic transaction levy. As an association, we have raised several concerns about this, but as we speak, yesterday we met with the Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority, and other relevant stakeholders, and most of our concerns about the electronic transaction levy (E-Levy) have been addressed,” he said.
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He also underlined that, as an organisation, it is critical that “dramatic steps are implemented at drastic moments when necessary.” Evans Otumfuor stated that the levy is now law and that all citizens must comply. So we’re here as allies, not adversaries.
He expressed gratitude to the government for taking such a bold step in generating cash for the country’s growth.
“The government has made bold efforts to cut the electronic transaction fee from 1.75 per cent to 1.5 per cent, and the charge includes a long list of exemptions.” We had hoped for a more significant reduction out of worry about the consequences for our operations.
He also asked President Akufo-Addo to deal with some of the problems that the E-levy had brought up.
Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana Further Demands From The Government
Your Excellency, we ask you and the Minister of Finance to act quickly to fix the problems that the levy has caused for us as agents. For example, the levy has made it hard for us to move money from our agent’s accounts to our bank accounts to make withdrawals and do other business-related things.
The General Secretary also talked about how little Ghanaians know about the E-levy and said that the group is willing to help teach Ghanaians about the levy.
“We have identified, Your Excellency, the feedback and signals gathered following the implementation of the E-levy, which has demonstrated that communication about the E-levy has been severely limited.” Your Excellency, it is in the association’s best interests to help push education and necessary sensitisation. We are prepared to take on any obligation the government is willing to assign to the association to ensure our businesses are adequately protected. Second, we will urge consumers to strengthen their trust in the Mobile Money platform. “
He also talked about the organisation’s problems, such as financial fraud, armed robberies, high operating costs, and trouble getting money.
The group also asked the President to put its members on boards and institutions whose policies and programmes directly or indirectly affect their businesses.
In conclusion, the General Secretary said, “The association is proud of you for these great initiatives, and MMAG is ready to work with the government to make more of these kinds of policies because the Mobile Money business is one area where the government can invest in creating more jobs for young people.”
The Government Promises
President Akufo-Addo, for his part, praised the group for pledging to work with the government to ensure the success of the E-levy.
“I am also very encouraged and appreciative of this collaboration offer to ensure that this contentious tax is successfully managed,” the President remarked.
He also expressed satisfaction that stakeholders in business share their issues as and when they arise.
“I believe it is appropriate that stakeholders like you voice your concerns as you did and that these concerns are taken into account by the government so that when the law is finally shaped as it has been, it is meaningful for the state and equally meaningful for the private sector operatives who are in this area,” the President emphasised.
The conference was also attended by Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Minister of Communications; executive members of the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAG); and other high officials from the Communications Ministry and the Presidency.