"E-levy: Economist urge gov’t to use proceeds judiciously"

" \n E-levy: Economist urge gov't to use proceeds judiciously \n \n\n \n Senior lecturer at the\u00a0University of Ghana Business School Lord Mensah, has said with the E-levy finally approved, the government must make sure that the proceeds are used for the purpose for which the policy was introduced, \n \n\n \n Speaking in an interview, he said, \u201cwe don\u2019t expect that whatever proceeds that will come out from the e-levy we will not be used for the intended purposes.\" \n \n\n \n He therefore urged Ghanaians to consider the e-levy as\u00a0a policy that has come to stay irrespective of how they feel about its approval. \n \n\n \n \u201cI think there is going to be that response where people will start stopping using the platform. I am not a prophet of doom, but the understanding of the the people, as to whether they will be prepared to pay 2 cedis or 3 cedis per transaction that is being made, it will be difficult for them to understand because the value of that 2 cedis might be different at that echelon of transactions. \n \n\n \n Read: 5 African fintech firms listed among the world\u2019s Top 100 cross-border payments companies\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \u201cSo effectively, we are going to get that sensitivity of patronage going down as a result of the price that is being charged. But for me, I think we have gone beyond that kind of back and forth, where we will be thinking about the bill being passed or not. \n \n\n \n \u201cWe have to look at it as a bill that has come to stay,\" he stated. \n \n\n \n Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress\u00a0(NDC) lawmakers have sued the Attorney General following the approval of the e-levy by Parliament on Tuesday March 29. \n \n\n \n The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu described the approval as illegal and unconstitutional because in their view, the Majority did not have the right numbers to pass it. \n \n\n \n \u201cThis is a charade,\u201d he said at a press conference in Parliament, adding that \u201cthere is no E-levy.\u201d \n \n\n \n \u201cThe majority of less than 137 conducting businesses only proceeded on illegal and unconstitutional business. Parliament did not have the numbers to take any decision that should binding Parliament and Ghanaians,\u201d he added. \n \n\n \n But Prof Mensah said nothing will come out of the suit. \n \n\n \n \u201cI have heard Minority going to court, I don\u2019t think anything will come out of it because the budget in itself was rejected but then when it went to the Supreme Court, it was unanimous decision, 7:0 [against the plaintiff]. So I don\u2019t think anything new will come out of it,\u201d he said. \n "

"E-levy: Economist urge gov’t to use proceeds judiciously"

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