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E-levy and COVID-19 levy will be abolished- Bawah Mogtari assures
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, special aide to President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign, has reiterated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s pledge to abolish the controversial electronic transfer levy (E-levy) and the COVID-19 levy.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, she stressed the importance of fulfilling this commitment, which was prominently featured in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto.
Madam Bawah criticised the E-levy’s 1.5% rate as excessively high, especially compared to other nations where similar taxes are capped at 0.5%.
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“The E-levy has been a significant concern for many citizens. In a country where several banks have collapsed, some intentionally, mobile money services have become the main avenue for financial transactions. It is critical to ensure that this platform remains accessible and affordable for all,” she remarked.
She argued that the levy disproportionately affects ordinary Ghanaians who rely on mobile money for daily transactions, describing it as both inconvenient and stifling.
Madam Bawah highlighted the broader consequences of the E-levy, particularly its disruption of international development efforts.
“Many development partners used to distribute resources through mobile money platforms. However, the introduction of the E-levy has disrupted these processes, adding unnecessary strain to an already fragile system,” she explained.
She also criticised the continued collection of the COVID-19 levy, years after the pandemic’s peak.
“If we still have these levies in place and yet have not completed crucial projects like Agenda 111, we need to ask ourselves whether these levies serve their intended purpose,” she argued, referencing the government’s ambitious healthcare infrastructure initiative.
The removal of the E-levy and COVID-19 levy is a cornerstone of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto. Madam Bawah assured Ghanaians that the government remains resolute in delivering on this promise.
“These levies will be scrapped,” she declared emphatically, adding that the move is necessary to ease the financial burden on citizens and restore confidence in mobile money as an accessible financial platform.
