It would’ve been folly for Bawumia to oppose E-levy after its implementation – Oppong Nkrumah

On August 20, 2024, 9:25 PM

The Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Manifesto Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has come to the defense of the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, after his recent pledge to abolish the E-Levy.

During the NPP’s manifesto launch in Takoradi on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia outlined plans for significant tax reforms, including scrapping the E-Levy and betting tax should he win the upcoming general election.

Criticism from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) quickly followed, with many questioning why Dr. Bawumia, who currently serves as Vice President, had not pushed for the removal of the E-Levy.

In response, Mr Oppong Nkrumah, clarified that Dr. Bawumia had initially opposed taxing digital payments before the E-Levy was introduced.

However, once the policy was adopted by cabinet, it would have been inappropriate for the Vice President to publicly challenge it.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who also serves as Works and Housing Minister, argued that Dr. Bawumia’s recent promise to abolish the E-Levy is consistent with his original stance on the issue.

“Vice President Dr Bawumia, even before the E-levy was introduced, was clear on his position about taxing digital payments. I have been on record saying that when the matter came before the cabinet, he expressed his principal opposition to it. But in the end, cabinet took a particular position.

“Of course, it will be folly of him as a sitting Vice President to come and do a press conference and say that he disagrees with the stance of his government. He expressed his position, but we take collective responsibility for what was done around the table,” he said on Channel One TV.

He urged Ghanaians to trust in Dr. Bawumia’s commitment, emphasising that if elected, he would follow through on his promise to remove the tax and other unnecessary revenue measures.

“He has therefore now said that if you make him the man in charge in 2025, that principal position that he has, he’s going to establish it by ensuring that this E-levy and other revenue lines that he considers unnecessary will be taken off. There’s no discrepancy between the two.”