Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu has defended government’s decision to impose a 1.75% levy on all electronic transactions in the country.
Addressing a townhall meeting at Koforidua on Thursday, the Ablekuma West MP stated that, the e-levy is comparatively lower as compared to the rate of digital taxes in other jurisdictions like the United Kingdom.
According to her, if Ghana wants to mobilise enough revenue to enhance development, citizens must be willing to embrace the 1.75% e-levy. In her view, the levy is being introduced at a relatively lower rate.
“In 2008, the government of President Kufuor, introduced the Communications Service Tax in August of that year, and it became another source of income for national development. That tax was introduced at a rate of 6%, which was later increased to 9%. E-levy is being introduced at the lowest rate for any tax in Ghana, comparatively at 1.75%. Less than 2%. In other countries, digital taxes are being introduced at the rate of up to 10% and they’re paying.
That’s the UK. And we go there and seek loans from them to finance our development. When we are not paying the requisite taxes that we should”, Ursula Owusu stated.
GhanaFeed.com