E-levy saga: We will continue to engage the Minority- Dep. Finance Minister

 Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. John Kumah has hinted that, they will continue to engage the Minority in Parliament to approve the e-levy.

A meeting between the Minister for Finance and the leadership of the Minority group over the controversial electronic transfer levy yesterday ended in deadlock.

The engagement, which took place in Parliament, ended inconclusively following the failure of the parties to reach common ground.

But the Ejisu lawmaker speaking to the media said, they will continue to dialogue on the issue to find an agreeable position on the tax measure that has sharply divided the house.

The E-levy is a new tax measure introduced by the government in the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions.

A charge of 1.75% will apply to electronic transactions that are more than GHS 100 on a daily basis.

Hon. John Kumah noted that, the townhall meeting which was organized by the Ministry of Information on the e-levy yesterday at Koforidua went on smoothly.

According to him, it is their responsibility to listen to Ghanaians and educate them why it is necessary for them to accept the levy.

He noted that, they will continue to engage Ghanaians to support the e-levy to help develop the country.

….HON. KUMAH…..

 

 

 

E-levy: Government townhall meeting was a disappointment- Asiedu Nketiah

General Secretary for the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, aka, General Mosquito has expressed his disappointment towards the government following their townhall meeting on e-levy at Koforidua in the Eastern region yesterday.

According to him, he expected the government to engage Ghanaians base on what they (Ghanaians) don’t understand.

He added that, Ghanaians will not be convinced to support the e-levy despite their meeting.

Government yesterday held a major town hall meeting on the Electronic Transaction levy (E-Levy) pending approval at Koforidua.

The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Information, was aimed at educating members of the general public on the need to accept the implementation of the E-levy bill meant to widen government’s tax net.

But General Mosquito noted that, the government rushed to engage Ghanaians after the NDC embarked on a townhall meeting at Kumasi earlier this week.

He stressed that, there’s nothing good to write home about looking at what they said during the townhall meeting.

….ASIEDU NKETIAH…..

 

 

 

Rice farmers unable to get buyers

Thousands of bags of rice harvested during the last farming season in the Northern Region have remained in the warehouses and homes as farmers struggle to find buyers.

Some of the farmers said the major rice off-takers in the region stopped buying their rice because the prices of imported rice had become lower due to the benchmark value discount.

Alhaji Salifu Abdul Salam, Chairman of the Mechanized Agric Service Providers Association, who speaking to the media said the situation would throw rice farmers out of business.

Alhaji Salam said Avnash Industries, which is the major off-taker in the region, is not buying rice and when they ask them, they tell them they will make a loss because of the benchmark value discount on imported rice.

According to him, they are already face a lot of challenges, including the high cost of production, which has tripled and if something is not done about the benchmark value discount, it will be difficult for them to farm this year.

He stressed that, they have over 20, 000 bags of rice which are not been sold because they are not getting buyers.

The government, in 2019, announced the benchmark value discount on some imported goods and products, leading to a reduction and or stabilization in the prices of imported products.

During the presentation of the 2022 budget, the government announced the withdrawal of the benchmark value discount on certain products, including rice.

However, some interest groups said the move would lead to increased prices in the market, forcing the government to suspend the implementation of the reversal of the benchmark value discount.

….ALHAJI SALAM….

 

There should be no E-levy debate, voting if Speaker is not sitting – KT Hammond advocates

The Adansi Asokwa MP, KT Hammond says there should be no E-levy debate and subsequent voting on the floor of Parliament in the absence of Speaker Alban Bagbin. 

Speaking to the media, he said that once Speaker Bagbin is not presiding over the debate, the majority caucus would not have enough numbers to get the bill passed.

He added that both sides having 137 members each, could bring the House to another feuding moment thus, the only way to ensure discipline and sanity in the chamber is to table it for discussion when the Speaker is in the seat.

Mr Hammond stated that “if the speaker is not sitting and we have 137 and 137, how are we going to get the numbers? Are we going to fight again? We are going to get the battle of E-levy settled squarely and nicely. We (NPP) have our 138, Bagbin is sitting, there is no room for argument.”

His comment comes after Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, informed the House of his intention to travel outside the country for another medical review.

With the Electronic Transaction Levy Bill (E-levy) tabled for discussion next week, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh had described the Speaker’s frequent absence, especially during critical decisions in the chamber as worrying.

….KT HAMMOND….