Fellow Ghanaians, is the Akufo-Addo government’s upgraded version of the AGYAPA DEAL which becomes the E-TRANSACTION LEVY? Aargh!!!
When they were in opposition, Mr Paa Willie Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia condemned and criticised taxes. Intact, Dr Bawumiah pledged that when in government, the NPP will move from the government’s source of revenue from “taxation to production.” Why are they today slapping citizens left and right with taxes?
A basic Economics student knows that taxes are some of the sources of revenue for the government to use for investment in enhancing developmental projects, to service its debts and for consumption such as payment of public workers’ salaries. But the abnormality rises when the taxes paid by citizens are not used for their intended purposes but are funneled to rent expensive private jets for the President Akufo-Addo to shower in the sky, and to pay for his expensive foreign travels.
Why is President Akufo-Addo always on the international financial market borrowing when there is no reflection on the country’s wellbeing?
On 17th November, 2021, I woke to the news on Joy News that the Finance Minister Ken Ofori in their 2022 budget statement want to tax any Ghanaian using Mobile Money (MoMo).
Whaaaaaaaaat?!!
In fact, this decision is awkward and it is more like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Citizens are burdened because of the Covid 19 pandemic, who at this difficult time need support from the government are instead seeing the government rather make a U-turn to tax them.
The NPP tradition is the most indebt-soaked political tradition in our our history, as this current NPP government of Nana Addo has borrowed more but has less to show.
Nana Addo and his government will continue to do the unimaginable and the unthinkable. The ordinary Ghanaians who are suffering in order to make ends meet are to be bothered with another tax called MoMo tax where every MoMo user who transacts MoMo business of 100 ghc and above is expected to pay a tax of 1.75%.
Why should a minor pay MoMo tax?
Why should an unemployed citizen pay MoMo tax?
Why should a student who is under the responsibility of his or her parents pay MoMo tax?
Why should the aged pay MoMo tax?
Do the minor, student, aged not pay indirect taxes when they board tro-tro, buy medicines, food, satchet water, books, pencils, coca-cola, visit the public toilet, etc.?
Why does the government want to burden them with a MoMo tax?
And what this confusion about the directive of the Minister of Roads to stop the collection of road tolls without any prior notice to toll ticket contractors, toll workers, hawkers at toll joints wishing to sell to make some few cedis for the upcoming Christmas?
Does the government think about the plight of the hawkers along and around the tollboots areas?
What about the toll booth workers, some of who are physically challenged.? How many can be re-employed and to which sectors can they be re-assigned?
In fact, Nana Addo is making people lose interest in our modern politics because, Electronic Transaction Levy (e-transaction levy) is an avenue to scam Ghanaians in a daytime robbery.
The most shocking revelation is that, the major network providers like MTN are charging only 1% on above 100gh withdrawals where they pay their workers salaries from, part is used to maintain effective and efficient system, provide for office use, organizing programmes, etc. It means that 1% is a big amount, now how can the government tax its citizens 1.75%? more than what the service providers charge? Is this not a scam?
The scamming nature of this government should not to be taken lightly anymore else, a time will come that even the air we breath will be paid for.
The three-hundred and forty-eight page budget could not capture any good news for the teaming youth. No job, no hope in the budget and a government that does not make opportunities for the youth is insensitive and self-centered.
How can a government claim to have provided temporary employment to 100,000 NADCO trainees only to come out today to say only 33,000 have secured jobs. What will the 67,000 be doing?
I am calling on every Ghanaian to rise up in their communities and reject this abnormal MoMo tax and other taxes which will benefit only Nana Akufo-Addo’s family and friends.
This tax is just the upgraded version of Agyapa Royalty,
Say no to the Momo tax.
We Deserve Better.
Mr. President, please do not tax our MoMo.
Mr. Bawumia, please do not tax our MoMo.
Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, please do not tax our MoMo.
Moses Dometey Tettey (aka Bola Ray Jnr)
A Youth Activist
HP: 0246969345
Friday, 19th November, 2021.
