Parliament has voted to abolish the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), marking a major policy shift in the country’s taxation system. The bill, passed on Wednesday, March 26, now awaits President John Mahama’s assent to become law.
The E-Levy, introduced in 2022 by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, imposed a 1.5% tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments. While the tax was intended to boost government revenue for infrastructure projects, it was widely unpopular.
Critics argued it burdened ordinary citizens, discouraged digital transactions, and disproportionately affected low-income earners and the unbanked population.
Public opposition to the levy was intense, sparking protests and calls for its repeal. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by Mahama, made scrapping the tax a key campaign promise ahead of the December 2024 elections.
The bill’s passage in Parliament marks a decisive step in fulfilling that pledge. When the motion was put to a vote, there was no dissenting voice, signaling broad support for removing the tax.
Now, all eyes are on President Mahama, who is expected to sign the bill into law, officially ending the E-Levy era in Ghana.
Source: InsiderGH.com
