There is a simmering misunderstanding in the National Democratic Congress over the introduction of the electronic transaction levy, popularly known as E-levy as party gurus contend over whether to abolish or maintain it should the party return to power, The member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Paul Twum Barimah has revealed
According to him, a section of the apparatchiks in the NDC are in favour of the introduction and implementation of the electronic transaction levy , while other gurus in the party are against it based on orders from their superiors .
Speaking to the New Crusading Guide Newspaper in an interview, Honourable Twum Barimah said what brought about the confusion was the indecision of Dr, Clement Apaak, the NDC MP for Builsa South in the Upper East Region, Who said he wasn’t certain if the NDC would abolish the e-levy should it return to power; and said that ‘we will cross the bridge when we get there’ Dr. Clement Apaak in a statement gave a strong indication that the NDC would not abolish the controversial e-levy if passed by Parliament.
Apaak failed to answer whether the opposition NDC would maintain the e-levy or scrap it should they win power in 2024.According to him, his reason being that the bill is yet to be passed. He insisted the NDC cannot adopt a position on whether it’ll be maintained or not.
He lamented that “The levy has not been passed neither have we come to power. We are talking about today, we cannot talk about the future today. We’ve not gone there, we are not the ones in government. We cannot dwell on conjecture and what we know is that it is unjustified”.
Immediately after the comments by Dr. Clement Apaak, The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reacted with a statement that the opposition party would abolish the Electronic Transaction Levy (e-levy) when it assumes power, if government approves its implementation, a move that contradicted his comments and deepened the confusion in the party.
According to Asiedu Nketia, the introduction of the levy is not meant to better the welfare of Ghanaians. Rather, it is to rob them of their hard-earned monies. It is not taxation. It is daylight robbery. Taking people’s capital from their pockets. We will abolish it within the first 100 days we assume power. ”The NDC General Secretary made the comments when he joined the Youth Wing of the party last week to protest the passage of the Electronic Transactions Levy Bill. He emphasised that the NDC is not against taxation, but is opposed to initiatives that would worsen the plight of Ghanaians.
“We are not against taxation. Taxation is for value addition. But we will not sit and watch the government robbing us. The alternatives are there.”
He added: “Who in his right senses in this country asked the Minister for Roads to argue that we abolish the road tolls and convert the toll booths to toilets and washrooms?”
Mr Asiedu Nketia concluded by affirming that the National Democratic Congress and the Minority in Parliament will “keep the fire burning so long as we have a government that operates with impunity.”
During the interview, Honourable Paul Twum Barimah revealed that majority of the members of the National Democratic Congress, including their members of parliament have come to accept the electronic levy as a good system that would help revive and sustain Ghana’s economy but are being pressured by their party executives and their 2020 party flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama to reject it. He revealed that sources in the NDC have assured him that the E-levy would be maintained by the party should it return to office and that it is a good thing tax system. He therefore urged Ghanaians to ignore the noise being made by a section of the minority, National Democratic Congress in an attempt to destabilise the peace that Ghanaians are enjoying.
