Governance expert and the Executive Director for Governance Watch, Stephen Kwabena Attuah, has intimated that the E-levy still remains a contentious issue yet to be solved by Parliament.
Commenting on the removal of the levy as requested by some Ghanaians, he averred that he is hopeful that when Parliament resumes on the January, 18, 2021 the issue will get back on the table and be dealt with.
Stephen Attuah advised government to try to speak to Ghanaians, to accept the fact that government requires money to be able to undertake the activities stated in the budget.
Earlier the MP for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa asserted that as part of his 2022 expectations, he is expecting that the e-levy is removed.
Responding to that, Mr. Attuah noted that he “thinks that honorable Ablakwa’s issues raised, we will all attest to the fact that this remains a contentious issue to the extent that Parliament could not even arrive at a decision before going on recess”.
Mr. Attuah touching on the specific issue of the levy, however, noted that if the component of the levy and the percentage of the levy is checked, it has to be worked on.
“There is a section of Ghanaians who are quite liberal on these issues but you can see clearly that they want a reduction of this matter. It is clear that no consensus has been reached on the levy specifically and even the levy that is supposed to be put in. I think that we should be expecting Parliament to come out with something better”.
Stephen Kwabena Attuah
According to Mr Attuah, if one followed the debate till the day Parliament went on recess and could not come to a consensus on the e-levy bill approval, the majority side gave the impression that they were considering a reduction in the percentage proposed.
The governance expert disclosed that despite the majority’s impression created, it was quite surprising that on the day the bill that was seeking to introduce the levy was laid before Parliament, there was not a percentage drop and was exactly the 1.75 percent proposed in the budget.
“I am sure that the resistance that came might have resulted from the fact that, what was proposed that a lot of people spoke against and even advocated for its abrogation, was exactly what was placed on the table in Parliament for it to be passed”.
Stephen Kwabena Attuah
President’s travel cost
Okudzeto Ablakwa in his New Year expectations also asked that the President cuts down the cost of his travels and disclose the cost of his travels for the purpose of accountability and transparency.
Commenting on the MP’s request, Mr Attuah stated that he agrees with Okudzeto Ablakwa but has difficulty agreeing with the government when it says its expenditure on the people’s taxes should be kept from the public.
“In fact, I am not sure anybody is asking for projected expenses to be given to the people on what the President intends to use the allocations in terms of his foreign travels and all that. We are talking about money that has already been spent. He has already traveled, so I don’t see any security matter on this”.
Stephen Kwabena Attuah
Mr. Attuah, however, stated that for the President’s future travels, details cannot be exposed for safety and security reasons.
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