Former Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong has welcomed the government’s decision to scrap the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), Betting Tax, and Emissions Tax, stating that their removal aligns with the country’s best interests.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV, Acheampong reflected on the initial intentions behind the E-Levy but acknowledged its shortcomings.
“I believe that as an administration, we introduce taxes to support our vision and the policies we campaigned on. Initially, the E-Levy seemed like a positive step,” he said.
However, he admitted that the tax faced significant opposition from the public, which hindered its success.
“We all witnessed the strong opposition and challenges surrounding its introduction. Given the issues that emerged, it is not surprising that it didn’t perform as expected or generate the desired revenue,” he noted.
With the tax now abolished, Acheampong sees this as an opportunity for the government to explore more effective ways of raising revenue.
“Its removal is quite welcoming, and I hope that the current administration will introduce more creative strategies to generate revenue for the country. If it’s gone, it’s gone; we do not need it as a country,” he added.
His comments come after President John Dramani Mahama signed legislative bills scrapping multiple taxes, including the E-Levy, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from different sectors of the economy.
