The Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) is warning that any move by the government to impose any form of tax on mobile money services will collapse the successes chalked with the financial inclusion agenda.
In its post-budget review on the 2020 budget, Director of the Institute, Professor Peter Quartey said the country's small and medium enterprises have been relying on mobile money services for their transactions especially after the shutdown of some savings and loans companies in recent times.
"Concerns about taxing mobile money remains and can affect financial deepening especially the poor who have no access to formal banking services especially with the collapse of Microfinance and other non-bank financial institutions," he said.
Professor Quartey argues that taxing certain areas of the economy including mobile money will affect the growth of the financial sector.
ISSER believes the 2020 budget statement lacks concrete plans in raising domestic revenue to finance key infrastructure projects.
According to ISSER, the country's inability to meet many fiscal targets in the 2019 financial year should have provided an opportunity for the government to give a clear strategy of achieving in 2020, a situation they described as problematic.
Prof. Quartey also questioned the claim by the Finance Minister that the government has put some GH¢12.4 billion into the pockets of Ghanaians.
"Has the jobs provided under NABCO, youth in afforestation, Youth Employment Agency among others adequate to absorb the teeming youth unemployment challenges?"
The Institute also described the 2020 budget as a neutral plan which fails to be bold on Revenue generation.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Bawumia joins thousands in Kumasi for burial prayers for Ashanti Regional Imam
31 minutes -
Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited challenges government actions in court
58 minutes -
Patrick Atangana Fouda: ‘A hero of the fight against HIV leaves us’
2 hours -
Trinity Oil MD Gabriel Kumi elected Board Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies
2 hours -
ORAL campaign key to NDC’s election victory – North America Dema Naa
3 hours -
US Supreme Court to hear TikTok challenge to potential ban
3 hours -
Amazon faces US strike threat ahead of Christmas
3 hours -
Jaguar Land Rover electric car whistleblower sacked
3 hours -
US makes third interest rate cut despite inflation risk
3 hours -
Fish processors call for intervention against illegal trawling activities
4 hours -
Ghana will take time to recover – Akorfa Edjeani
4 hours -
Boakye Agyarko urges reforms to revitalise NPP after election defeat
4 hours -
Finance Minister skips mini-budget presentation for third time
4 hours -
‘ORAL’ team to work gratis – Ablakwa
5 hours -
Affirmative Action Coalition condemns lack of gender quotas in Transition, anti-corruption teams
5 hours