Okyere Baafi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South in the Eastern Region, has appealed to the church to accept the Electronic transaction Levy (e-levy) to enable the government mobilise revenue for progress, growth and development.
He conceded that the levy was worrying considering the current hardships, but necessary to help the government deal with the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic for recovery.
“We urge the church to accept the levy for the sake of nation building and what the church can do to help the country are prayers and promoting patriotism and the church should agree the country is going through some difficulties because we did not see COVID-19 can disrupt our economy,” Mr Baafi stated.
He made the appeal in Koforidua at the climax of the Easter Convention by the Church of Pentecost, Koforidua Area on Sunday and noted that but by the Grace of God and prayers the economy was recovering and entreated the church not to stop praying for the country so as to revive the economy.
Mr Baafi, who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, observed that issues had happened with some quiet difficult decisions but all for the sake of the country’s growth and development hence initiation of E-Levy for the sake of national development adding that “if the church does not accept the levy nobody can accept it.
“We know it is quiet worrying but at all cost try to welcome the levy to enable the government embark on development agenda to transform the country and reduce hardships,” he stressed.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said once the bill had been passed into law, the church had accepted it but left the responsibility of prudent management of revenue on the government and indicated that Ghana is the only country for Ghanaians and reiterated the need to sustain prevailing peace, unity, cohesion and harmony.
“If for nothing at all we have peace, unity, harmony and cohesion however, some countries around us are fighting but we are not so I wanted the MP to confidently speak on the e-levy but he is apologetic and once the bill has been passed into law, we have all accepted it and we must come together and contribute for the government to develop the country.
“We will do our part and leave the burden of prudent management of revenue to the government,” Apostle Nyamekye reiterated.
The implementation of the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy Act 2022 (Act 1075) commences on May 1, 2022 to impose 1.5 per cent on electronic transfers charged on an electronic transfer at the time of the transfer and charging entities were electronic money issuers, payment service providers, banks, specialised deposit taking institutions and other financial institutions prescribed by Regulations under the Act. –starrfm.com.gh
