The Ghanaian government’s proposal to introduce a 1.75% levy on digital transactions was recently rejected by a minority of lawmakers who insist the new tax derails efforts to help increase the number of adults that are financially included.
The digital transaction tax
A minority of lawmakers in the Ghanaian legislature recently rejected a government proposal to introduce a 1.75% tax on digital transactions, including mobile money payments. Lawmakers have argued that such a tax would slow the country’s plan to increase the proportion of financially included adults from 58% to 75% by 2023.
According to a report, the proposed levy, which was tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was (or is) expected to become effective from February 2022. The Ghanaian government argues that the proposed levy would help reduce the country’s deficit from an estimated 12.1% of gross domestic product this year to 7.4% in 2022.
However, minority lawmakers in Ghana’s suspended parliament insist the tax will run counter to efforts to increase the number of financially included adults. These lawmakers have so far refused to meet with Ofori-Atta who the report says is seeking to convince them to support his proposal.
Heated Proceedings
Meanwhile, following what the report called “heated proceedings,” lawmakers from the majority block walked out and this led to the adjournment of the debate to November 30. The report also said the refusal by the minority lawmakers to support the levy has frustrated lawmakers that back Ofori-Atta’s proposal.
The report quotes majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, questioning lawmakers’ refusal to support the tax. He asked:
The e-levy is the cornerstone of this budget. Where are we going to get the money to do the roads?
Ghana’s mobile money platforms whose transactions surged 82% to $91.9 billion in 2020 are now an indispensable part of the country’s payments infrastructure. In addition to making payments, the platforms are also used to access loans and to pay insurance premiums by Ghana’s unbanked population.
