Mr Felix Antwi
Felix Antwi, a former NPP vice-chairman in the Mfantseman West constituency, has stated his unequivocal support for the government’s proposed Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).
He defined the E-levy as a well-thought-out budget proposal to fulfill the massive demands of development when he spoke in an interview with the Daily Statesman over the weekend.
He said that innovative tax measure had become imperative in view of the fact that digital payment transactions are fast displacing traditional payment methods all over the world, stressing that Ghana should not be left behind.
“The evolution of money has given birth to digital currency. And the most popular mobile money service is money transfer. The trend is for users in urban areas to transfer funds to recipients in rural areas. Because, traditionally in Ghana, city dwellers often send money to members of their extended family living in rural areas. But that does not mean that’s the only way to send them money,” he said.
He made these statements in response to the opposition National Democratic Congress’s campaign against the E-Levy.
Mr Antwi added that the E-Levy is a welcome idea that aims to raise more funds for national development, saying he does not understand why people are opposed to it.
He stated that the government requires the public’s assistance and understanding in order to achieve the E-levy’s goals for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Minimal sensitisation
While urging Ghanaians to support the E-levy, he voiced concern about the lack of adequate education and understanding about the tax, which has sparked several debates in the country.
He claimed that all of the information given to the public is ‘political information’ since “we don’t have actual economic information that can help educate the public.”
He advised the government to focus on educating Ghanaians about the proposed E-Levy policy, claiming that “the beneficial results the government is attempting to achieve is misinterpreted by the public.”
“The E-Levy is not a bad policy, which would make the government unpopular. The government will not renege on its assurance to ensure transparent accounting for the proceeds that will be realised from the E-levy. Ghanaians should know that the E-levy is a smart move by the government to raise revenue to propel Ghana’s development,” he stressed.
Internal elections
In response to the governing NPP’s upcoming internal elections, Mr Antwi noted that while rivalry within the party cannot be avoided, “it should help the party and not produce any internal wrangling so we can break the eight.”
He asked party members to share the government’s good story at every opportunity they get so that the public is made aware of the government’s good initiatives.
Allowing the NDC to reclaim power, he claimed, would result in the government’s social intervention plans collapsing.
However, he believes that maintaining power and continuing the party’s excellent works will require discipline and a united front among party members.
“All government appointees and Members of Parliament (MPs) should close the gap between them and the electorate as part of the strategies of breaking the eight-year governance circle,” he entreated.
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