The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Aseidu Nketia, has stated that the NDC government will abolish the Electronic Transaction Levy [E-Levy] if the party wins the 2024 general elections.

Mr. Aseidu Nketia made this statement when he joined members of the Coalition of Concerned Ghanaians and the Youth Wing of the NDC during the ‘Yentua’ demonstration aimed at registering their displeasure over attempts by the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government to get Parliament to approve the controversial E-levy.

Speaking to the media, he said NDC is not against the introduction of taxes but sees the E-levy as an attempt by the government to pickpocket ordinary Ghanaians of their source of livelihood amidst the teaming economic hardships.

“We are not against taxation. Taxation is for value addition. But we will not sit and watch the government to keep robbing us. The E-levy is not taxation, it is daylight robbery. The alternatives are there. Who in his right senses in this country asked the Minister for Roads to argue that we abolish the road tolls and convert the toll booths to toilets and washrooms?” he quizzed.

“We will abolish it within the first 100 days when we assume power. It is not taxation. It is daylight robbery. Taking people’s capital from their pockets.”

The NDC has waged strong opposition to the l.75% levy on transactions, including mobile money and bank transfer but the government has in response held a series of town hall and constituency meetings to get the buy-in of Ghanaians.

The aggrieved Ghanaians converged at the Obra Spot cladded in red and black outfits singing songs holding placards inscriptions such as; “E-levy is a no brainer to economic recovery and we insist on ‘Yentua’ and “Pay UTAG students, we are suffering! Among many other marched through the principal streets of Accra and finally converged at Parliament to present a petition to the speaker.