E-levy (Ghana)

On 17 November 2021, Ken Ofori-Atta said the Government of Ghana decided to tax all electronic transactions in the informal sector to cover the tax net.^[3][4] He made this known in the 2022 budget statement and economic policy that was read in the parliament of Ghana.^[5] 1.75% is the rate of the E-levy which the Government decided to apply on all transactions.^[1][6][7][8] Ken Ofori-Atta said it could raise about $1.15billion which will widen the tax net.^[9] According to John Kumah, the money generated from the levy would be used for the payments of contractors in Ghana.^[5] Also, revenue from the levy would be used to support entrepreneurship, cyber and digital security; road infrastructure and provide jobs to about 11million people in the country.^[10][11][12] The Government of Ghana said that the introduction of the levy was due to the rise of the use of digital platforms for transactions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[11]

It was proposed the E-levy would cover the following transactions:

• All inward remittances (which would be paid by the recipient)
• All person-to-person (P2P) mobile transactions (which includes sending of funds to another account, payment for goods and services, payment of utilities
• All POS/Merchant payments.^[1][13]

Some Ghanaians were against the levy claiming it does not serve the interest of common people.^[14][15]

Some economists asked for the proposal to be reversed, claiming that it will jeopardize the government's digitalization efforts and plans to introduce the digital currency.^[3][16]

Haruna Iddrisu said the Minority in Parliament would not support the E-levy claiming it seeks to take away the money of a bigger proportion of Ghanaians in multiple phases.^[17][5]

In December 2021, brawl broke out in the Parliament of Ghana as some MPs of NDC and NPP started punching, ripping shirts, kicks and head-butting each other due to the disagreement of the E-levy bill.^[18][19]

Casiel Ato Forson claimed minority in parliament would reject the E-levy proposal.^[20][21] Kojo Oppong Nkrumah claimed changes were made the E-levy bill after consultations were held,^[22] and would be passed when Alban Bagbin is presiding.^[23]

Joseph Osei Owusu adjourned sitting of parliament without the passage of the bill into an Act.^[24]

Asiedu Nketiah has presented some E-Levy alternatives. The measures, he claims, will exacerbate the deficit that will be produced if the government abandons the contentious electronic transfer levy.^[25]

Shatta Wale, a dancehall musician, has weighed in on Ghana's contentious E-vey bill, which has been trending for weeks. According to him, lawmakers that are eager to introduce the electronic transaction tax are unconcerned about Ghanaians' plight.^[26]