Government is encouraging members of the general public to welcome the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) meant to widen the tax net of the country.

This comes at a time when the approval of the E-levy Bill has been opposed by the Minority in Parliament and some Ghanaians.

The Minority has argued that the levy will worsen the plight of Ghanaians who have not fully recuperated from the adverse effects of Covid-19.

Parliament last year suspended its approval due to the contention in the House. The House according to reports reaching JoyNews will discuss the controversial E-levy Bill next week.

According to the Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Finance Minister is deepening stakeholder conversations, in order to arrive at the best outcome for all Ghanaians.

While consultation is ongoing, government wants the entire support of citizens for the approval of the bill.

In a tweet on January 26, Ghana’s Presidency mentioned a number of projects it will undertake with the revenue that would be raised from the electronic transaction levy.

The Elevy will ensure that we have revenue to sustainably invest in entrepreneurship, youth employment, security, digital & road infrastructure. #elevyfordevelopment pic.twitter.com/O2OAbN8f0Y

— Ghana Presidency (@GhanaPresidency) January 26, 2022

“The Elevy will ensure that we have revenue to sustainably invest in entrepreneurship, youth employment, security, digital & road infrastructure.”

Government added that records show taxes collected so far have been used for some of its flagship initiatives that have positively impacted the lives of Ghanaians.

They include: Free SHS, Planting for Food and Jobs, 1 District 1 Factory, 1 Village 1 Dam, 1 Constituency 1 Ambulance, Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), Medical Drone Delivery, Year of Roads, Agenda 111 Hospitals, among others.

In view of this, government has called on all to “play our role as citizens by supporting the E-levy and also by making sure the taxes collected are used for its intended purpose.”