Finance Minister-designate, Cassiel Ato Forson assured that the Mahama government remains committed to scrapping certain taxes, including the E-Levy.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Ato Forson emphasized that the existence of E-levy harms the country’s progress towards a cashlite economy.
According to him, it is non-negotiable that the E-Levy be abolished within 120 days as promised by the Mahama-led government.
“I’ve written articles against E-levy, I championed the opposition against E-levy and I stand by them. Mr Chairman the E-levy is neither a direct tax, Indirect tax or exercise tax. I don’t know how to classify the E-levy as a tax practitioner,” Ato Forson said.
He continued “Mr Chairman it doesn’t mean that I do not recognize that the E-levy brings in certain revenue but the fact remains that the E-levy harms the progress towards the cash lite economy in the Fintech. We need to abolish the E-levy. I’ve said and I am on record to have said that given the opportunity I will abolish the E-levy.
"I want to restate that position that if approved as part of the first budget, I will be privileged and I will announce that we will abolish e-levy as part of our first budget. Recognizing my earlier stance and the commitment that H.E Mahama said that as part of our 120 days agenda we will abolish the e-levy and I can assure you the e-levy will go within the 120 days calendar”.