I took a firm decision to recuse myself from voting on E-levy – Adwoa Safo

Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has revealed that she did not vote in favour of the introduction of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy).

According to her, the imposition of the levy was at variance with her personal convictions.

“One thing I will never regret is the e-levy that I am being blamed for… e-levy is a tax which some of us thought will not help the country. This is because, my family has seen poverty before.

“My father’s church stands for charity. It was difficult for me to support a tax that will be imposed on hawkers. It did not sit well with me. My church elders also intimated to me that the e-levy will impose hardship on the people. I was torn between the church and Parliament.

“Many of my church members are below the poverty line. I took a firm decision that I will abstain from voting on the levy. I will recuse myself. Today, I say that if I had gone against my father’s wish, it would not have been well with me,” she said on Accra-based Ekosii sen on March 18.

According to the former Gender Minister, who spoke in Twi, she feels vindicated on her decision.

“Today, I have been vindicated. Even our flagbearer, Dr Bawumia promised to abolish it. No wonder NDC has taken steps to scrap it. Many members of our church did not vote because of e-levy,” she added.

On March 29 2022, the Majority in Parliament approved the E-Levy after the Minority walked out saying the tax will exacerbate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.

The approval happened after the Consideration Stage was completed under a certificate of urgency. The Bill was adopted at a reduced rate of 1.5% from the initial 1.75%.

The tax, which subsequently became a subject of debate among Ghanaians, was expected to rake in close to ¢6 billion in tax revenue for the country.

After two years of implementation, the new administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken steps to abolish the levy.

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, March 13, presented eight bills to Parliament aimed at abolishing several taxes, including the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), the betting tax, amongst others.