We Didn’t Say We Support E-levy; The Media Misrepresented Us; MoMo Agents

The General Secretary of the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG) Evans Otumfuo has accused the media of misrepresenting the leadership in their reports on the meeting the group had with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.

“Looking at the media presentation of the information over there, there is no way our members will support that particular media reportage. That is not exactly what we went to communicate” he said in an interview on Tuesday May 11.

Evans Otumfuo added that they talked about the security of mobile money agents and their workers, the cost of operating business and the need for government to support their business but however the kind of reportage the media have given to their meeting with President Akufo-Addo rather won’t make anybody happy with the MMAAG executives.

He emphasised that their Association does not support the E-Levy policy and its implementation contrary to the news reports that they have given their hundred per cent (100%) support to the controversial levy.

He told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Wednesday 12 May, 2022 that the leadership of MMAAG only meant they support the public education on E-Levy when they met with the President at the Jubilee House.

“Not that we generally support the E-Levy, it is the support of the education on the E-levy that we meant. We are not in support of any tax handle that impacts negatively on our businesses and the people of Ghana” Otumfour said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Mobile Money Agents that their concerns regarding the e-levy will be taken into account by the government.

He said this when the MoMo Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG) paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday May 10.

Mr Akufo-Addo thanked the association for agreeing to partner with the government in ensuring that the E-levy becomes a success.

“I am also very very encouraged and grateful by this offer of partnership to make sure this controversial tax is successfully administered” the President said.

He added “I think it is appropriate that stakeholders like you voice out your concerns as you did and that these concerns are taken into account by government so that when the law is finally shaped like it has been, it’s one that’s meaningful for the state and it’s equally meaningful for the private sector operatives who are in this area.”

Members of MMAAG assured Mr Akufo-Addo that they will support the e-levy and make it successful.

They described themselves as allies, not opposers of the policy.

The e-levy started on Sunday May 1.

General Secretary of the Association, Evans Otumfou said during the meeting with Mr Akufo-Addo that “Recently, we have witnessed government’s plan to introduce an Electronic Transaction levy which, as an association, we have raised a number of concerns but as we speak now, yesterday, we were in a meeting with the Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority and other relevant stakeholders and most of our concerns regarding the electronic transfer levy have been addressed.

“So we believe that as an association, it is important that as a nation drastic measures are taken in drastic times when they need be.

“The levy has now been passed into law and all citizens must pay. So we are here as allies, not opposing forces. We also commend the government for taking steps to reduce the e-levy from the initial 1.75 per cent to 1.5per cent and the tall list of exemptions provided by the levy.

“We had wished it reduced further for fear of its attendant impact on our business. We appeal to you and the Minister of Finance to expedite actions to look at the challenges that the levy has brought to us as agents in doing our business.

“Such as deductions that are made at the agent’s account in an attempt to put funds from their agents accounts to their bank accounts for purposes of withdrawals and other and other agent related activities. Let it be on record that our organization believes in the payment of taxes for the need for development and progress and we will not do anything that frustrates the success of the e-levy.”

He further commended President Akufo-Addo for the digitalization drive.

Otumfuo said “We are grateful and appreciate your passion, commitment and your hard work towards an aggressive digitization of our economy with its accompanying impacts on us as a business body, specifically Mobile Money agents.

Source: 3News