A Pressure Group calling itself, Arise Ghana, is asking the ruling government to as a matter of urgency withdraw the E-levy.
They said since the government has decided to seek an economic bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the need to cancel the E-levy is necessary.
According to the group, the government noted that implementing the E-levy was an alternative to prevent them from seeking IMF bailout however having reverted its decision the levy must be scraped off.
Arise Ghana in a statement slighted by Angelonline.com.gh, as signed by a leading member of the group, Rex Omar, said: “It would be recollected that in the government’s quest to saddle Ghanaians with the burden of the obnoxious E-Levy, it was presented as the alternative to any possibility of an engagement with the IMF.
“As such, the government should take steps to immediately withdraw the E-levy Act without any further delay since the country is on its way to the IMF eventually,” they said.
The group is also reminding that until and unless the President and his government make a conscious effort to cut down on its profligate spending and focus on priority expenditure the IMF policy will not solve the country’s common issues of “corruption, misplaced priority, opaque procurement processes and a virtual abuse of the public purse.”
Though a very late decision in the view of Arise Ghana, they added that the government’s impending engagement with the IMF will fashion out policies that will serve the interest of the country and steer Ghana out of the current economic doldrums.
Below is the full statement
RE: PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO AUTHORIZES FINANCE MINISTER TO COMMENCE FORMAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Arise Ghana has taken note of the decision by the Government of Ghana to engage with the IMF on the way forward for the financial and economic management of the Republic of Ghana as contained in a statement dated July 1, 2022 and signed by the Minister for Information, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Like the majority of the Ghanaian people, we are not surprised by this decision. We are however concerned that the government out of propaganda turned a deaf ear to all the expert advice in the wake of the poor and sorry state of the Ghanaian economy arising from very bad economic policies of the government.
Though a very late decision in our view, we hope the government’s impending engagement with the IMF will fashion out policies that will serve the interest of the country and steer Ghana out of the current economic doldrums.
It would be recollected that in the government’s quest to saddle Ghanaians with the burden of the obnoxious E Levy, it was presented as the alternative to any possibility of an engagement with the IMF. As such, the government should take steps to immediately withdraw the E-levy Act without any further delay since the country is on its way to the IMF eventually. However, it is important to remind the government that until and unless, the President and his government makes a conscious effort to cut down on its profligate spending and focus on priority expenditure, no IMF policy will solve our common issues of corruption, misplaced priority, opaque procurement processes and a virtual abuse of the public purse.
Arise Ghana will at all times stay true to its overarching objective of holding the feet of government and all duty bearers to the fire in our demand for accountability.
Signed
Cmde Rex Omar
Leading Member, Arise Ghana
