An economist, Professor John Gatsi doubts electronic financial transactions, also known as e-levy can be abolished by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia if he becomes president.
According to him, the decision by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is just a strategy to win the December 7. presidential election.
"I believe that all these discussions are going to be centred on 2025, and it is just a political strategy to make Bawumia look good for the election because you have already created a revenue stream for this government, and the IMF program will not end in 2025. So, to say, you need the same level of revenue to sustain the program. I don’t understand how you will be able to take one revenue source from the kitty and remain sustainable in the eyes of the IMF.”
“What Bawumia should be saying is that he will propose taxes A or B to replace the e-levy. If that is not what he is saying, then it is not something he can do, especially under the IMF programme,” he said.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia pledged to abolish the e-levy and four other taxes to encourage the population to use electronic channels for payment.
