The President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the University of Ghana Chapter has expressed concerns about Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent speech on Wednesday, February 7.
According to Prof. Ransford Gyampo, the government needs to address these concerns if it hopes to retain power. Dr. Bawumia promised to abolish the controversial electronic transaction levy, known as the E-Levy, if elected into office.
During his address, the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate highlighted the significance of transitioning Ghana into a cashless economy to stimulate economic growth and combat corruption. He emphasized the need to incentivize the use of electronic payment channels to achieve this goal.
The tax was implemented as part of the government’s strategy to broaden the tax base and generate revenue for development. Dr. Bawumia also outlined the progress made by the Bank of Ghana in establishing systems and infrastructure required for a cashless economy, such as mobile money interoperability, Universal QR Code payment system, and the e-cedi.
Prof. Gyampo questioned why Dr. Bawumia is not pressuring the government to implement these initiatives immediately rather than waiting until assuming power. The professor expressed his concerns on Facebook, highlighting the importance of swift action in adopting measures to transition Ghana into a cashless society. He also mentioned that parts of the presentation were an indictment of the government, raising serious questions and concerns.
It is clear that there are divergent opinions on Dr. Bawumia’s promises, and there’s a need for the government to address these concerns in a timely manner. As the election season approaches, it is crucial for all political parties and candidates to address the concerns of the people and work towards fulfilling their promises.
