Some mobile money operators in Kumasi have called on the government to intensify education on the Electronic Transaction fee, or E-levy.
They say their businesses have been negatively affected due to citizens not being fully aware of what the levy is and how it affects their transactions.
“It has affected the business in some way. The education has not reached the public to get the understanding.”
They are optimistic business will begin to grow once the public is sensitized.
“As time goes on and the public gets to understand what it is, I know they will come for their normal transactions. It will even improve our business.”
In the meantime, the operators are entreating members of the public to make their day to day transactions since merchants are exempted from the charges.
On the other hand, Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, has noted that some challenges affecting the implementation of the levy since May 1, are being addressed.
“By this time, most of the wrong charges have been sorted out. We saw that people who were buying airtime were being charged. That has been fixed.”
Speaking to the media in Kumasi, he noted that the E-levy is a massive project that has over 300 charging entities on board, therefore, some challenges continue to persist.
Until July, Mr Ashigbey said individuals who send money to accounts on a different network they own will be charged due to the absence of a common platform and the running of a modified phase approach.
He, however, noted that monies will be refunded to the affected individuals.
What you need to know about E-levy
Electronic transactions that will not come with a 1.5% tax rate:
A cumulative transfer of ¢100 made by the same person.
A transfer between accounts owned by the same person.
Transfers for the payment of taxes, fees and charges on the Ghana.gov platform
Electronic clearing of cheques
Specified merchant payments (that is, payments to commercial establishments registered with the GRA for income tax and VAT purposes)
Transfers between principal, master agent, and agent’s accounts.
Transfers that will be affected include:
Mobile money transfers done between accounts on the same Electronic Money Issuer.
Mobile money transfer to a receiver on another Electronic Money Issuer [Interoperability transfer]
Transfer from a bank account to [another person’s] mobile money account.
From a mobile money account to [another person’s] bank account.
Bank transfers on an instant paid digital platform.
Source: The Independent Ghana
