SMS Break: The E-Levy blackmail; accept E-levy or the economy may collapse – the need for fresh ideas?
Hosts of JoyFM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, January 31, 2022, on the #SMS Break section of the show, waded into the debate on the proposed Electronic Transaction Levy (e-levy).
Three of them: Raymond Acquah, Mamavi Owusu Aboagye, and Kojo Yankson, outrightly kicked against the levy.
Raymond Acquah stated emphatically that there is no justification for the implementation of the levy. “I am 100% opposed to the e-levy in all of its forms. It has not been justified enough,” he said.
He was particularly concerned about claims by the government that the economy will collapse if the levy is not passed.
“In fact, the worst of the conversation we’re having is the attempt to Blackmail the people. I gave you [government] a job to do, you failed at the job, you’re telling me that you’re failing at the job and so I should give you more resources to do so.
“[Now] you’re telling me that my entire livelihood is at stake because you failed at the job and with this I mean the new conversation about ‘the economy may collapse if you don’t give me this.’ That admission alone should lead to people saying that I can no longer do the job,” he said.
Winston doesn’t mind if the levy is passed. However, he called for the reduction of the percentage government is proposing.
“I’ve always talked about the fact that government as part of its consultation should talk about reducing the e-levy. Having read [some articles] I think that between 0.5% and 1% would not be a bad thing.”
He further entreated the government to cut down on expenditure. “We have other options, we could choose to cut down on expenditure,” he added.
Kojo Yankson was also against the e-levy. He likened the situation to ‘going into negotiations’ with someone before raping the person.
“The principle is wrong. Even the symbolic gestures are significant. If you drive in 20 V8s to a town hall to come and tell me that I must pay a tax every time I’m making a payment for everything because you mismanaged the economy… and come and ask me that I must make this sacrifice every time I make a payment – already, I’ve paid taxes when I got my salary.
“The principle of it, I’m against it so when I hear about reduction from 1.75% to 1% it’s kind of like somebody saying that ‘look I know that I have to rape you but you know what, I’ll only go one round,” he said.
Source: Ghana News
