Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has harshly condemned the controversial e-levy, alleging that it had a big role in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse broadcast on Thursday, March 20, she outlined her reasons for rejecting the levy, highlighting how it failed to accomplish its original purpose and ultimately affected regular Ghanaians.
“I didn’t vote for the e-levy, and I have no regrets about my decision,” she explained. “I abstained from endorsing it because I believed it wouldn’t benefit the people of Ghana. Instead, it would take away from their already meagre resources, especially the most vulnerable sections of society.”
“Ghanaians voted against us partly because of the E-levy,” she remarked.
Adwoa Safo also noted how the e-levy badly impacted those in low-paying positions, particularly persons who relied on mobile money [MoMo] to send monies to their families in remote areas.
“Individuals who were most affected were those working in low-paying jobs, who relied on sending money back to their families in the countryside. These individuals were already struggling, and the e-levy took away the little they had. It was a levy on their hard-earned money, further exacerbating their troubles,” she noted.
Adwoa Safo also pointed out the contradiction between the government’s promises and the reality.
“We were told that by introducing the e-levy, Ghana could avoid going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, in the end, we still ended up requesting IMF funding. Despite introducing this tax, the government was unable to avoid the same financial aid it promised we could live without.”
Referring to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2024 election program, in which he vowed to repeal the e-levy if won, Adwoa Safo expressed a sense of vindication.
“I feel vindicated,” she remarked. “If the e-levy was actually a good tax, why did we still end ourselves at the IMF? How can we justify punishing those who are already struggling, especially since it did not prevent us from requesting IMF assistance?”
Adwoa Safo finished by stating that the e-levy failed to achieve its intended goals and instead imposed more burdens on the same individuals it was supposed to assist.
“It just didn’t make sense,” she explained. “The e-levy hurt ordinary Ghanaians, and in the end, it didn’t achieve what it promised.”
