#GhBudget: Banks, Telco’s will not be affected with 1.75% levy- John Awuah

 Chief Executive Officer for Ghana’s Bankers Association, Mr. John Awuah has stated that, the 1.75% levy will not be impose on Banks and Telco’s.

According to him, the levy is on individuals who use that channel for themselves or businesses.

He added that, this additional cost will increase the already charges either at the bank of Momo.

The government, as part of strategies to widen the country’s tax net, has announced an Electronic Transaction Levy.

It will be a 1.75 percent charge on all electronic transactions.

This fee, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is to enhance financial inclusion and protect the vulnerable.

Transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances will have the levy imposed on them and will be borne by the sender.

Mr. John Awuah noted that, the banks will be a collection agent for GRA but the levy will be paid by the individual.

…..JOHN AWUAH FIRST……

John Awuah again said, he doesn’t think the 1.75% levy will wipe away the convenient of people who use the E- money.

He noted that, this E-money has helped people to send and receive money anywhere, anytime.

…..JOHN AWUAH SECOND…….

 NCD bare teeth with the closure of toll both

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has expressed their frustration against the Road Minister, Hon. Amoako Atta for ordering the immediate discontinuation of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country.

Workers at the various toll booths are mainly members of the disability association of Ghana.

Chairman of NDC, Ofori Debrah speaking to the media said, Road Minister didn’t consult them before ordering for the discontinuation of the collection of tolls.

According to him, they didn’t think that, the Minister would order for such action after Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta disclosed it during the presentation of the 2022 budget.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has directed the immediate discontinuation

This order according to a statement signed by the sector Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah is to take effect from today Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 12:00am.

It follows the announcement by the Finance Ministry of the scrapping of tolls on all public roads.

“The Ministry of Roads and Highways hereby directs the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide.”

But Ofori Debrah stressed that, there should have been consultation between them and the Ministry before there’s any directive.

Ofori Debrah questioned why the Road Minister made such directives without the approval from the parliament.

….OFORI DEBRAH….

Hawkers at the various toll both expressed their anger towards the government after the scrapping of tolls on public roads.

….HAWKERS…..

FLASHBACK: ‘I don’t believe Mobile Money should be taxed’ – Bawumia

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in August last year, opined that Mobile Money (MoMo) should not be taxed.

In his view, the majority of MoMo users are poor, therefore, should it be taxed, these ones will suffer more.

Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on PeaceFM, the vice president said, “I don’t think Mobile Money should be taxed because most of the people who use the service are poor people so if you put more taxes on it they will suffer.”

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said he does not think Mobile Money should be taxed beyond the corporate taxes the telcos already pay on their mobile money earning.

But Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta presenting the 2022 budget yesterday announced the introduction of the levy in the 2022 budget statement to increase tax revenue for the country.

“The government will charge an applicable rate of 1.75% on all electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances, which shall be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient,” Ken Ofori-Atta announced.

According to him, the 1.75% tax on the e-levy is insensitive to Ghanaians due to the remittances involved.

But Dr. Bawumia said, “I don’t think Mobile Money should be taxed because most of the people who use the service are poor people so if you put more taxes on it they will suffer”.

….BAWUMIA…..

 

E-Levy: Government yet to engage Telco’s over ‘digital tax’

Ningo Prampram lawmaker Samuel Nartey George has said the government did not engage the telecom companies before announcing the introduction of the tax on mobile money services in the 2022 budget statement.

Sam George who is also a member of the communications committee of Parliament described the government as ‘clueless bunch’.

According to him, there’s has been no consultation with any of the Telco’s, but rather the Telco’s are hearing the tax for the first time during the presentation of the budget.

He added “The NCA and the Ministry of Communications are now inviting Telcos and Service providers in the space to a meeting on Friday to discuss implementation of a policy announced in the budget? Such a clueless bunch of managers. Post facto thinking.”

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced a new levy to be charged by government in 2022 on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector.

“It is becoming clear there exists enormous potential to increase tax revenues by bringing into the tax bracket, transactions that could be best defined as being undertaken in the ‘informal economy’,” Mr Ofori-Atta observed on Wednesday, November 17 as he presented the 2022 budget statement in Parliament.

“After considerable deliberations, government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the ‘Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy’.”

He explained that the new E-levy will be a 1.75 per cent charge on all electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments and inward remittances to be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient.

….SAM GEORGE…..

Agric Minister speaks on fertilizer price increase

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is hinting at an increase in fertilizer prices.

According to him, the world fertilizer market is in turmoil because of the severe shortage of gas which is the basic input for fertilizer manufacturing.

Dr Akoto, speaking to the media revealed that, the major European companies and the United Kingdom are folding up due to the price build up.

He added that, Urea fertilizer, which a year ago was $310 per metric ton, is now to $980 dollars on the world market in one year and it will still go up.

 His comment is in reaction to an increase in fertilizer prices making it difficult for farmers to buy.

 Earlier this year, there was a shortage under government’s flagship Planting for Food and Job Programme – a situation which created panic in the sector.

But the Agric Minister emphasized that there is a general shortage of fertilizer in the world and therefore the increasing exorbitant market prices of the commodity.

He noted that, we don’t produce fertilizer in Ghana but rather import all the fertilizer so they have no control over it.

The Agric Minister attributed the current phenomenon to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic global.

But Dr Akoto said plans are far advanced for Ghana to get its own fertilizer plant.

….AFRIYIE AKOTO…..

 

Toll both scrapping: Road Minister acted in good faith- Annoh Dompreh

The Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Hon. Frank Annoh- Dompreh has defended the Road and Highway Minister, Hon. Amoako Attah for the discontinuation of the of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has directed the immediate discontinuation of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country.

This order according to a statement signed by the sector Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah is to take effect from today Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 12:00am.

It follows the announcement by the Finance Ministry of the scrapping of tolls on all public roads.

“The Ministry of Roads and Highways hereby directs the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide.”

Some traders at the various toll both have expressed their anger against the Minister and the government as a whole.

But the Nsawam/Adoagyiri legislator speaking to the media at the Parliament today said, “We think that the Minister acted in good faith and when you heard the first Deputy Speaker, he said, we are the makers of the law and the Executives enforce the law”.

According to him, things would have come out peaceful if the roads committee would have engaged the Minister.

He added that, the Minister acted in good faith to affect chaotic situations that needs to be respected.

….HON. DOMPREH……

 

 

Toll both scrapping: We need compensation- Toll both workers

Embattled toll both workers have called on the government to as a matter of urgency compensate them for dissolving their work.

According to the angry workers, it will be fair for the government to sack them from their work without compensating them.

They added that, they have family to feed hence the need for the government to give them six months’ salary as their compensation

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has directed the immediate discontinuation of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country.

This order according to a statement signed by the sector Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah is to take effect from today Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 12:00am.

It follows the announcement by the Finance Ministry of the scrapping of tolls on all public roads.

“The Ministry of Roads and Highways hereby directs the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide.”

The workers revealed that, they need a compensation to start their own business since they are no longer on the government pay roll.

….WORKERS…..