The Information Services Department in Koforidua Eastern Regional capital in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday, May 20, 2022; sensitized the general staff of the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly on Electronic Transfer- levy (E-LEVY). The workshop organized by the management of the Assembly was aimed to ensure that staffs are cleared with any challenges confronting them on public misconception of the E-levy.

Mr. Samuel Wiafe, a member from the Ghana Revenue Authority with his team officially, briefed the audience on the 1.5% E-Levy, he expressed by saying Ghana Revenue Authority per their mandate are the sole implementation body in charge of Government Policies in respect to tax system within the country. He continued by stressing that, Government is taxing the 1.5% on transactions or transfers which exceeds only GH¢100.00; hence, people should abstain from the public mischiefs on the E-Levy.

He further mentioned some areas where the E-Levy transfers covers, he said, transfers from a wallet on one electronic money issuer to a recipient on another electronic money attracts E-levy, also; transfers from bank accounts to mobile money wallets, transfers from mobile money wallets to bank accounts etc. all fall under the chargeable category.

On the part of the areas where the E-levy do not cover, Mr. Samuel wiafe noted that, transfers between accounts owned by the same person, transfers for the payment of taxes, fees and charges etc, electronic clearing of cheques, specified merchant payments, cumulative transfer of GH¢100.00 per day made by the same person using mobile money, all do not amount to the E-Levy. In respect to how the accumulated tax will be spending in the country, Mr. Samuel Wiafe made know that, Government is with the vision of expanding the tax base structure within the country, hence, allotting the revenue generated from the E-Levy to support entrepreneurship, create employment for the youth, and also improves infrastructure within the country.

For his part, the Municipal Information Officer, Collins Aikins Akuffo reiterated the need for all to contribute their quota into the Ghana’s revenue basket to enable the government do more project.

THe said, the policy implementation will go a long way to increase the country’s revenue, while enhancing efficiency and widening the tax net across sectors of the economy.

He emphasized that the government through her vision intended to raise revenue to support the economy in the area of entrepreneurship, youth employment, road infrastructure and above digital infrastructure and cyber security.

In view of the above, the Information Officer encouraged the participants to embrace the government initiative so that the economy can grow.