The Ranking Member on Energy Committee in Parliament has described the idea behind the E-levy taxation on MoMo as a lazy man’s economics to raise money.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday during the debate on the passing of the controversial Bill at the consideration stage, John Abdulai Jinapor said the taxing is "insensitiveness of the highest order".
“MoMo is not about purchases and that is what the Ranking member said there are normally three levels of taxation what you earn, what you consume and then wealth that is property.
"If I send money to my son in school to take that money to buy books and you want to tax that, do you call that consumption?”
According to the Yapei Kusawgu MP, "even before the e-levy is passed, the government has already earmarked ¢242 million as E-levy transaction cost," which he considers a problem.
He stated that the tax revenue as of 2021 was 55 billion, but government intends to increase it by 45 per cent to 80 billion in a single year.
He added the amount allotted for the U start programme is just 5.7% of total revenue expected from e-levy therefore Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s comment that e-levy would help in job creation is not entirely true.
“How can you tell the people of Ghana that you want to create jobs but when it comes to the allotment of those monies they don’t even get 10% percent of those monies. Mr Speaker, in my opinion this is deception of the highest order,” he said.
The Minority Group in Parliament, therefore, urged members of the Majority Group to stand with them to oppose the Electronic Transaction Levy.
Mr John Jinapor called on the Majority Caucus to “be bold, stand up, join us, and be counted.”
According to him, he is aware that some members are equally against Bill's passage because they are worried about their constituents.
“What we [Minority] are looking at is very simple. Let me encourage the members of the Majority side; I know some of you have a big heart, I know some of you are not part of the insensitive group, I know some of you are concerned about your constituents to be bold, stand up and be counted…Mr Speaker, join us to say no MoMo taxation,” he called on the NPP MPs.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Jinapor entreated Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to back up his biblical references with "action, principles, programs, and progress."
“Mr Finance Minister, managing this economy is not just about quoting bible verses to us. Thank you very much for your bible quotation,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
11 seconds -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
1 min -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
5 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
7 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
13 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
19 mins -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
21 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
22 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
31 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
33 mins -
CBG records GH¢1bn revenue in Q3
35 mins -
Mahama vows to create an agro-processing zone in Afram Plains
49 mins -
Political parties should plan for losses, not just wins – IGP advises
51 mins -
524 Diasporan Africans granted Ghanaian citizenship in ceremony
53 mins -
Mahama urges Afram Plains North residents to avoid ‘skirt and blouse’ voting
54 mins