Akufo-Addo “determined” to fill revenue gaps, describes opposition to e-levy as “unnecessary disputation”

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said his government is determined to find the means to address what he describes as revenue gaps in the budget.

When passed, the bill will charge a levy of 1.75 percent on electronic transactions. Government projects to raise GH₵6.9 from the levy. It is, however, struggling to pass the controversial bill due to strong opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s Minority.

Addressing a delegation of traditional leaders from Dzodze in the Volta region on Tuesday, the Mr. Akufo-Addo said the government will push through the bill, despite the opposition.

He stressed the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic forced the government to undertake unplanned expenses to ensure that the economy does not collapse.

“Revenues during 2020/2021 went down considerably because of the slowing down of the economic activities that came from the Covid. At the same time, government, in order to keep the country going, did some expenditures – the free water, the free electricity were the unavoidable expenses that government had to make.”