Economist at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Dr. Patrick Asuming, says the Vice President’s continuous silence on the Electronic Transaction levy (E-levy) suggests he is against the imposition of the tax.

According to Dr. Asuming, he was among the many Ghanaians hoping to hear Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s take on the levy since he opposed the taxation of electronic transaction some years ago.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Friday, he said: “Yesterday, one of the things I was hoping he will comment on was the E-levy. I think his silence on that matter is quite revealing in itself. I guess he isn't supportive of it.

"When he talked in the past about not taxing MoMo, he made the point that most of the economists have been making about the E-levy and the fact that this isn't a good tax to impose.”

The Vice President on Thursday delivered his take on the current state of the economy at the TESCON Training and Orientation Conference.

In his 2-hour speech, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia made mention of the levy once. The E-levy was only stated as part of government’s revenue mobilization measures.

The Vice President neither condemned its introduction nor urged Ghanaians to pay the 1.5% tax.

However, Dr. Bawumia among other things stressed on transforming the economy through digitalization.

“The digital payments infrastructure is boosting e-commerce in Ghana. Businesses are booming over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Many people who cannot afford to rent or build shops are able to do business on the internet at little cost with deliveries helped by digital address and payments using mobile money interoperability," he said.

Interacting with Benjamin Akakpo, Dr. Asuming noted that digitization is the way to go in generating revenue for the country.

“That (will make) sure that we are connecting our systems and that whatever business we are doing, you are captured someway somehow. And if you are not paying your dues, you are made to,” he said.