Mahama will abolish nuisance levies – Joyce Bawah assures

Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to President John Mahama, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating the controversial electronic transfer levy (E-levy) and the COVID-19 levy, as outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto.

Speaking in an interview, she emphasised that fulfilling this promise was crucial to alleviating the financial burden on Ghanaians.

“The E-levy has been a significant concern for many citizens,” she stated, highlighting the strain it has caused for ordinary people.

She pointed out that in a country where several banks have collapsed, mobile money services remain the primary means of financial transactions.

“It is critical to ensure that this platform remains accessible and affordable for all,” she added.

Criticising the E-levy’s 1.5% rate, Madam Bawah compared it to other countries where similar taxes are capped at 0.5%, noting that the high rate makes it burdensome for Ghanaians.

“For those who have no other options but to transact business using mobile money, this levy is not just inconvenient but stifling,” she explained.

Additionally, Madam Bawah discussed the broader implications of the E-levy, particularly its negative impact on international development.

“Many development partners used to distribute resources through mobile money platforms, but the introduction of the E-levy has disrupted these processes, adding unnecessary strain to an already fragile system,” she said.

She also questioned the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government’s continued collection of COVID-19-related levies years after the pandemic had subsided.

“If we still have these levies in place and have not completed crucial projects like Agenda 111, we need to ask ourselves whether these levies are serving their intended purpose,” she remarked.

The removal of both the E-levy and COVID-19 levy was a key promise in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, and Madam Bawah assured the public that the government is determined to fulfil this pledge.

“These levies will be scrapped,” she emphasised.