The Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), John Awuah, has suggested that the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) could resurface as Ghana and other countries continue to embrace digital finance.
Speaking in an interview with Kwasi Afriyie on Good Afternoon Ghana on Metro TV, Mr. Awuah explained that the ongoing digital transformation across global economies might prompt governments to revisit such taxation strategies to increase domestic revenue.
“Digitalisation has taken over every economy in the world,” he said. “Based on the direction we are headed, I believe the E-Levy might come back in the future.”
Although he did not explicitly support or oppose the reintroduction of the levy, Mr. Awuah underscored its potential relevance, especially as traditional revenue models struggle to keep pace with the rapid growth of the digital economy.
The E-Levy was first introduced in 2022 as a tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers. Its rollout was met with intense criticism from the public, who argued that it would deter the use of digital payments and undermine efforts to promote financial inclusion.
Facing public resistance and economic concerns, the government later suspended the levy. However, Mr. Awuah’s comments suggest that the conversation around taxing the digital economy may not be over.
As Ghana continues to invest in digital infrastructure and as cashless transactions become more dominant, policymakers may revisit tools like the E-Levy to ensure sustainable revenue generation for national development.
His remarks come amid broader discussions on how best to adapt Ghana’s tax framework to evolving financial systems.
