By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Vice President, and the 2024 flag bearer of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated categorically that he will abolish the tax on electronic financial transactions, e-levy, and emissions tax if elected President of Ghana.
Dr. Bawumia added that his bid for a Digital and Cashless Ghana will be significantly boosted if e-levy is abolished.
The 2024 flag bearer for the NPP gave this and many other promises when delivering his first major address to the nation after he was elected some months ago at the University of Professional Studies in Accra.
The NPP flagbearer, during his address gave broad policy outlines of a Bawumia Presidency,
Dr. Bawumia minced no words in declaring his opposition to taxes on electronic financial transactions, declaring that he would abolish e-levy as President.
“To move towards a cashless economy, however, we have to encourage the population to use electronic channels of payment.
To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will, therefore, be abolished,” he reiterated.
He also announced that his government would introduce what he described as a friendly, flat tax regime for Ghana, which will boost individuals and businesses, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
“My administration will introduce a very simple, citizen and business-friendly flat tax regime.
A flat tax of a % of income for individuals and SMEs, which constitute 98% of all businesses in Ghana, with appropriate exemption thresholds set to protect the poor,” Dr Bawumia indicated.
The controversial tax was introduced in 2022, and before the introduction, Vice President Bawumia had declared his opposition to levies on electronic financial transactions in an interview.