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Decision To Stop E-levy Implementation A “Political Gimmick” – Gabby
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the founder of the public policy think tank the Danquah Institute (DI), has reacted to the Minority in Parliament’s decision to stop the implementation of the E-Levy at the Supreme Court, describing it as a “political gimmick”.
According to Otchere-Darko, the Minority is aware that its move to injunct the collection of the E-Levy will yield no fruit but has taken the step to satisfy party followers.
In an interview with Asaase Radio’s Beatrice Adu, Otchere-Darko said: “I don’t want to pre-empt it [the outcome of the case] but I think that legal move was just made … is what I call ‘takashi’ [meaning, you know it won’t go anywhere but you want to just flex your muscles and maybe satisfy the grass roots]. Because really, what is a quorum today? Is it 137 or 138 [MPs present in the chamber]?
“So, I’m saying that they themselves [Minority] know that the case that they have before the court is not likely to go anywhere. It is a political gimmick if you ask me, but of course, they have to show it to their grass roots that they’re doing something about it.
“But anyway, allow it. Let’s wait to see what the court will have.”
E-Levy must work efficiently to avoid issues
Otchere-Darko added that he remains optimistic that the system designed to run collections for the Electronic Transfer Levy will work efficiently.
“Do I think Ghana needs the E-Levy? I do think that Ghana needs to raise more taxes; there are absolutely no two ways about it. And I see the E-Levy as another means of taxation,” the political strategist said.
“Bear in mind that there are a lot of transactions that ordinarily would have even incurred VAT, and those transactions are happening online. My prayer is that the system to collect the E-Levy will be done efficiently so that it doesn’t create bottlenecks and issues,” Otchere-Darko said.
