Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, has postulated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) understands the vehement opposition to the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (e-levy)which currently seeks1.75 per cent charge on all electronic transactions including mobile money.
He observed that no citizen in the world would like to pay tax thus understood the stiff opposition to the levy and intended to implement currently an unpopular tax due to competitiveness.
“The opposition National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament (NDC MPs) should be glad the government intends to implement a tax that is unpopular.After all, we are in competition however, the onus lies on the government to use the revenue generated from the e-levy for its intended purpose to meet the hopes and aspirations of the citizenry since they have indicated they do not want to share political risk which I agree and it is fine,” the Deputy Majority Leader intimated.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is the MP for Effutu in the Central Region, indicated that the government would take political responsibility however, the game-changer would be their ability to demonstrate to Ghanaians they did not take the money for the sake of taking it but make judicious use of it.
According to him, the government had made judicious use of money it had received locally and internationally and not abuse it but whatever it was used for had been transparent and accountable.
“Former President Agyekum Kufuor went Highly Indebted Poor Country, he was criticised but his administration had an effective and efficient communication strategy where the benefits related to projects which were all over and citizens realised they transformed the country.
“We have vowed to break the 8-year power cycle jinx in the political history of the country, however, many have warned forceful passage of controversial e-levy could cost us but we are unfazed due to revenue to be accrued to transform the country,” Mr Afenyo-Markin asserted. –ghanaweb.com
