The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has cast doubt on the ability of government to meet the revised E-Transaction Levy (e-levy) revenue target.
Expected revenue from the e-levy has been revised downwards from the initial ¢6.9billion as stated in the 2022 budget statement to ¢611million in the mid year budget review.
The initial target as stated in the 2022 budget document was ¢6,963,386,254 but was readjusted in the budget review submitted to Parliament by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Monday July 25 to ¢611,000,000.
Regarding Value Added Tax (VAT) the expected revenue has been adjusted upwards from the initial ¢14,534,864,446 to ¢15,402,925,770.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday August 3, Mr Sammy Gyamfi said “After displaying stubborn, the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has now revised his over ambitious end of year e-levy target from ¢6.9billion to about ¢640million which we doubt will even be realized.”
He further accused the government of thievery after alleging that e-levy is charged on the first ¢100 sent, contrary to the e-levy Act.
“Even more bizarre and pathetic is the fact that the counter productive e-levy is sometimes charged on the first ¢100 sent by some Ghanaians to their loved ones in a day despite same being exempted under the e-levy Act.
“This is naked thievery being perpetuated by the Akufo-Addo government against already impoverished tax payers.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana