Member of Parliament for Chiana-Paga, Nikyema Billa Alamzy, has clarified that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was never opposed to taxation in principle but strongly objected to the controversial e-levy introduced by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, describing it as “daylight robbery.”
Speaking on GHToday with Lily Mohammed, Mr. Alamzy explained that the party’s resistance to the e-levy stemmed from concerns over its structure and the economic climate in which it was introduced.
“We weren’t against the NPP government taxing Ghanaians. It was the mood. It was the direction. And look at the e-levy… it was daylight robbery,” he stated.
He illustrated how repeated deductions from mobile money transactions could ultimately see the government recovering the entire amount originally sent.
“If I earn GHS200 and send it to my momo, then use it to pay a Makola woman, and she also sends it to someone else, by the time it moves through 100 people, government would have taken all that GHS200 back,” he said.
The Chiana-Paga MP indicated that while taxation remains an important tool for national development, it must be applied fairly and with a clear purpose. He expressed support for levies such as those on betting and emissions—but with caveats.
“If the goal is to discourage betting, tax the betting companies. Don’t shift the burden to the youth who are already struggling,” he argued.
On the emission levy, Mr. Alamzy said such measures should be targeted and environmentally strategic.
“You can say any car older than 10 years pays triple duty. That saves the environment and discourages pollution. That’s direction,” he suggested.
Commenting on the recent suspension of the emission tax due to international tensions, the MP questioned the legality of the executive decision, noting that since the law had been passed and assented to, the President could not unilaterally suspend it without Parliamentary approval.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
