The controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) Bill, 2021 is expected to be withdrawn from Parliament following agitations from a section of the populace.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, disclosed this Friday during presentation of the business statement for next week.
According to him, the government plans to withdraw the Bill and reintroduce it again on Friday, February 11, 2022.
The E-Levy seeks to impose a 1.75% levy on electronic transactions, including Mobile money transfers between accounts on the same Electronic Money Issuers (EMI), Mobile money transfers from accounts on one EMI to a recipient on another EMI, Transfers from bank accounts to mobile money accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme), Transfers from mobile money accounts to bank accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme) and Bank transfers originating from a bank account belonging to an individual.
The introduction of the bill has met stiff opposition from well-meaning Ghanaians including the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who argue it will further compound the hardships of the ordinary Ghanaian.
An attempt to pass the bill late last year degenerated into chaos leading to a free-for-all fight in Parliament as the Minority raised concerns about moves by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu, presiding as Speaker to vote on the matter.
The government is currently holding series of engagements and town hall meetings to explain the rationale behind the bill.
So far, those engagements have taken place in Koforidua and Sekondi-Takoradi, where varied reactions have greeted introduction of the bill.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin said, “This House in consultation with leadership and other stakeholders continue to engage on some concerns relating to provisions of the Bill.”
“Members are reliably informed about efforts by the Hon. Minister of Finance to undertake sensitisation tour in certain parts of the country to educate the citizenry on the need for the passing of the Bill for the benefit of the economy.”
“The Hon. Minister for Finance has therefore given indication after his nationwide engagement with the citizenry on the bill, of the likelihood of the withdrawal of the Bill and reintroduction of same on Friday, February 11, 2022, barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
“In the event that, he is unlikely to withdraw and reintroduce the Bill on Friday, February 11, 2022, he may do so Tuesday, February 15, 2022,” he added.
Source: MyPublisher24.com