Stakeholders call for increased transparency in how E-Levy funds are used

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has backed calls for transparency in the manner in which funds accrued from the Electronic Transfer Levy (ELevy) are used.

One of the sources the government was hoping would help it raise much-needed revenue is the E-Levy, but information from government’s quarters indicates that it is underperforming woefully.

A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko recently noted that the tax measure since its implementation has generated only 10% of estimated revenue, causing some to call for it to be scrapped.

Others on the other hand have advocated more transparency with how the funds from the tax are used to engender increased support

Speaking to Citi Business News, on the issue of transparency, Dr. Ashigbey advocated the rollout of measures and strategies that will inform people of how their taxes are being used.

“I think it is fair to ask that if we’ve decided that we are taking this tax for a particular purpose, we are able to go back and see if it is being used for that particular purpose. For me, as a corporate governance student, I think that transparency and providing information, by the people who are in positions of responsibility is important.”

“And I don’t think we do enough of that. It is something we need to do constantly if we want to take out all the clouds and perceptions of suspicion. If we could even have a website that customers can go to find out with regards to how much is coming in and what the funds are being used for, it will be helpful,” he added.