Roads, job creation form bases for E-Levy – Afenyo-Markin

The Akufo-Addo-led government intends to use the revenue from the proposed Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) to fund road construction and job creation.

This, according to the Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for the Effutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is at the heart of the levy which government intends to re-lay before Parliament in the coming week. The first attempt to have the levy passed by Parliament resulted in a brawl, forcing the House to adjourn sitting prematurely.

But the government is determined to have it passed in the coming weeks after a stakeholder engagement. While the government seeks to impose a rate of 1.75% on electronic transactions including Mobile Money (MoMo), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority insists the policy smacks of insensitivity to the plight of Ghanaians.

Speaking to Johnnie Hughes on TV3 New Day, Mr. Afenyo-Markin explained what necessitated the attempts to impose the levy.

“We’re saying that two main things form the bases for the introduction of the e-levy – our roads and job creation. Roads is a major concern…government is getting six million a month from road tolls, what can six million do?”, he explained

“Government has identified this as a low hanging fruit that let’s all tap into it and see how we can use the revenue thereof to solve the roads problem”, he added.

The MP has also disclosed that the NDC Minority in Parliament has given them all the necessary cooperation needed to do government business, save the few instances where there were brawls in the House.

Meanwhile, he has assured NABCO trainees whose five months allowances are in arrears that the government will pay them.

Source: 3news