The Mobile Money Agents Association has expressed doubts about President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to abolish the E-levy.
The Association claims that the President’s original promise was to renegotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about the possibility of scraping the E-Levy.
Mr. Charles Addo, the Association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), revealed that during a meeting with the then-NDC candidate, they were informed that the Nana Addo-led administration had collateralised the E-Levy with the IMF funds we received.
He claimed that during the meeting, he had the opportunity to ask President Mahama what he was going to do about it, and his response was that the NDC government would renegotiate with the IMF on the matter.
”During the campaign, we had the chance to meet with President Mahama. At the meeting, I asked Mr. Mahama what he was going to do about the E-Levy because it had impacted our businesses, and he responded that he had heard about the E-Levy’s challenges. However, the NPP government used the E-Levy as collateral in their negotiations with the IMF, so he was not going to promise to scrap it. However, when they released their manifesto, they promised to scrap IT. I only share what Mahama told me. He explained that it was collateral, and that when they take office, they will renegotiate the deal, and if successful, they will scrap it. I am only telling you what Mahama told me. He told us it was collateral, and so when they assume office, they will renegotiate the deal, and if successful, they will scrap it.
He added, ”And so, just as President Mahama told us that the E-Levy was collateral for the IMF deal and that it was still in place, we only see his promise to scrap it as political talk. However, we are hopeful that he will scrap it. We’re not politicians. We are business owners who want to make money. We’d be overjoyed if they could renegotiate and get it scrapped.
When asked if they heard the President being emphatic about scrapping the levy during the campaign period, he said,’’We know that was political talk, but the meeting he held with us with his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, present and what he told us was that he will negotiate the deal and, if possible, scrap it.’’
He warned that should the president fail in scrapping the e-levy, he would have failed in his social contract with the people, and Ghanaians will certainly decide on what next to do.
When asked the specific date they met with the President, he mentioned the year 2023 in the second quarter, specifically July 17.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
