Ghanaians can expect an end to the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) soon, as President John Dramani Mahama is set to sign the repeal bill into law by Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem confirmed this during an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, March 26. He explained that although Parliament has already passed the bill, it has yet to be officially transmitted to the President for his assent.
“Parliament is still in session, and so I doubt the Clerk has been able to transmit what we are doing to the President. There are a number of other bills that we are considering, so if they will be able to do that, it will have to be tomorrow or the day after,” he stated.
Immediate Implementation After Assent
Mr. Ampem assured the public that once President Mahama signs the bill, the Finance Ministry will swiftly direct the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to halt the collection of the E-Levy.
“I understand the President may be out of town tomorrow, and so all things being equal, by Wednesday, he will assent to the bill. Once that happens, the Finance Ministry will get the GRA to discontinue collecting the E-Levy, and it’s going to happen as soon as possible,” he emphasized.
According to the Deputy Minister, the GRA is already prepared for the transition, and its Commissioner General has assured that immediate action will be taken once the bill is signed.
End of a Controversial Levy
The E-Levy, introduced in 2022 by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, imposed a 1.5% tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments. It faced strong opposition from the public, with many arguing that it placed an unnecessary financial burden on citizens.
The repeal of the levy has been widely welcomed, as it aligns with the Mahama administration’s commitment to easing the cost of living for Ghanaians.
Mr. Ampem expressed confidence that the full repeal will take effect before Friday, April 4, ensuring that citizens will no longer be subjected to the tax.
“I’m sure it will take effect before next week Friday,” he concluded.
With the repeal now imminent, Ghanaians are eagerly anticipating relief from a tax that has been a point of contention since its introduction.
