The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged Ghanaians to bear with them on the increase in E-levy since the nation can only have meaningful developments through the collection of taxes.
Addressing the media at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Headquarters in Accra, the Deputy Minister for Finance, John Kumah, explained that the new charges on MoMo would not affect receivers but only senders.
Mr. Kumah averred that the government is pleading with the entire citizenry in the country that it acknowledges the hardship that the people are in and is pleading that Ghanaians would accept the tax which is the E-levy.
“It is only when you send GHC200 you are charged Ghc1.75 even your first Ghc100 would not be charged, the MoMo levy would apply on your second Ghc100. Secondly, all money from your MoMo account to your bank account would not attract any charges likewise, when you transfer money from your bank account to your MoMo account you don’t pay any charges”.
John Kumah
The Deputy Minister disclosed that other developed nations like the USA and UK “would have to take some measures with respect to taxation” in order to keep them going.
“Now, I beg to say that it is not with joy that the government imposes tax but the truth of the matter is that there is no nation that can be built without taxes. We need as a citizen and as a nation help to raise resources so that we can spend on the things that we expect the government to do. In building us roads, hospitals, infrastructure and providing jobs for the young people”.
John Kumah
Budget focused on job creation
Touching on the YouStart initiative, John Kumah indicated that the main issue that the budget focused on was on jobs and in the 2022 budget, government is allocating about 10 billion cedis for the YouStart programme.
The deputy finance minister stated that government knows that young people want opportunities for jobs in the country and as a government, the solution to job creation in the country, it believes lies in the creativity and the innovation of the young people. He added that if the necessary and enabling environment is created for them, it will be in the position to create those jobs for themselves and for others.
“And to achieve this, government is allocating 10 billion Ghana cedis to support the YouStart program to open economic opportunities for young people in our country. And through the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme, (NEIP) and the GEA which use to be the NBSSI is implementing this in partnership with the participating financial institutions in our country”.
John Kumah
Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs Welcomes YouStart Initiative
John Kumah posited that the YouStart initiative is a good message and a very big hope to the young people of Ghana that finally government is not promising opportunities for young people but government has committed 10 billion Ghana cedis to enable the youth have access to patient capital and very soft financing arrangement for them to be able to have financing to execute their business ideas.
“That is one of the best announcements that as young people of our country, we are so proud about that His Excellence the President has kept fit with the young people and not just talking about lack of jobs for the people”.
John Kumah
