The Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG), says it is not opposed to the government tax revenue agenda including the newly introduced electronic levy tax (E-levy).
According to the Association, although they opposed the introduction of the levy, they have resolved to support the tax policy and are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to make the levy a successful national policy.
They admitted that it became necessary after broad consultations and discussions with the appropriate quarters.
General Secretary of the Association, Evans Otumfuo, in his address on behalf of the delegation indicated that “despite our earlier resistance to E-levy, we also understand that government will have to take drastic measures in drastic times.”
“The e-levy has now been passed into law and all citizens must obey, so we are here as allies and not opposing forces”
“We also commend the government for taking bold steps to reduce the electronic transactions levy from the initial 1.75% to 1.5% and the tall list of exemptions provided by the e-levy,” Otumfuo said.
The Association made this known when they paid a courtesy call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
They further called on the president to press on all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the e-levy such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization to take immediate steps to address their concerns and challenges.
“Your Excellency, we appeal to you and the minister of finance to expedite actions to look at the challenges that the levy has brought to the agents in the line of doing their business such as deductions made on the Agent’s accounts anytime funds are transferred to their bank accounts for purposes of accessing cash to serve customers”
“Let it be on the record, your excellency, that our organization believes in the payment of taxes as a major tool to drive the needed development and progress and would not do anything that frustrates the success of the levy” he added.
Highlighting the issues of fraud and identity theft, they noticed that the growing menace is the most pressing challenge facing members of MMAAG thereby calling on the President to urge the security agencies to help find a lasting solution to the problem.
MMAAG also pointed out that continued education of Ghanaians on the electronic transaction levy will go a long way to protect the businesses of members of the association.
“We have identified, that your excellency, the feedback, and signal picked after the implementation of the e-levy, really reveal that communications on the e-levy have been extremely low”.
“Your Excellency, it is in the best interest of the Association to help drive education and the needed sensitization. We are ready to man such responsibility of going around the country to help drive education on the e-levy. Our Association intends to support the government to realize the needed revenue” Otumfou added.
On his part, President Akufo-Addo welcomed the concern of MMAAG to support the implementation of the electronic levy tax (E-levy), noting that the policy has been introduced by his administration for the good of the country.
He assured that the security concerns raised by the association would be given the immediate attention it deserves.
