Review the E-Levy Act— Addi Self calls on govt
After the Akufo-Addo-led administration passed the Electronic levy (E-Levy) bill, many Ghanaians and industrial stakeholders have criticised the government for the tax meant to rake in GH¢6.9 billion in 11 months.
The new personality to have added his voice to the brouhaha is the the Former Militant group member, Jafaro Mohammed known in showbiz arena as Addi Self.
The Reggae/Dancehall artiste have reiterated calls on government to reconsider his decision in order for the tax imposed on Ghanaians not to become a burden.
Speaking in an interview with the SpotOnNews in Accra on Saturday, Addi Self noted that there were so many pressure in the system and the passage of the E-Levy had added to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.
“Personally I don’t support the payment of E-Levy because there is so much pressure in the system. There are teaming unemployed graduates and prices of goods and services keep hiking so the passage of this bill will increase the burden of ordinary Ghanaian,” he stated.
He said the government could still review the taxation system in the country and expand it wider to ensure individuals and groups who were swerving tax payment do the needful.
The “Zongo to BBC” hitmaker admitted that the government could only develop the country in the right direction by building the necessary facilities, amenities and construct good roads if it received the needed tax.
However, he lamented that the passage of E-Levy into a law would increase the tax payment of some genuine workers whose salary had already been taxed, hence would be unfair since “payment of tax should be fair.”
Meanwhile, delivering a message on the state of the nation to Parliament on March 30, pursuant to Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said despite the economic gloom that has engulfed the country, as caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease and lately the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, there was some progress to cheer about since government was taking steps to surmount the challenges.
“The road to recovery will be hard and long, Mr Speaker, but we have started on a good footing by accepting that we are in a difficult place, and are taking the difficult decisions that will get us out,” President Akufo-Addo told the House.
The President therefore appealed to Ghanaians to support his government as it implements measures to address the challenges.
“There are many problems that we have to overcome to get back to where we ought to be. I need your support. No President, no Parliament, no government can undertake this task all by themselves. We need all Ghanaians to pull and push together,” he said
President Akufo-Addo after which assented to the Electronic Levy Act which seeks to impose a 1.5 per cent tax on electronic transactions in the country.
The President appended his signature to the Act, which takes full effect in May.
The tax will be administered by the Ghana Revenue Authority and collected through licensed banks, specialised deposit-taking institutions, payment service providers and electronic money issuers.
Source: www.spotonnews.net
