The Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, has urged the Ranking Member of the committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, to collaborate with the security agencies investigating the suspected drug trafficking and money laundering at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

This, he said, would help expose any wrongdoing and also safeguard the reputation of the country.

He has, therefore, assured Rev. Fordjour that the committee will take urgent steps to invite the various security agencies and the National Security Coordinator to brief the committee on the outcome of investigations conducted so far in relation to his request when Parliament reconvenes.

Mr Agalga, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North in the Upper East Region, was responding to a request by Rev. Fordjour for the committee to invite the security agencies to brief Parliament on investigations being conducted into the incident at the KIA, the raid at Sapeiman and the cocaine seizure, which he (Rev. Fordjour) said were of public interest.

Request

In a letter dated April 2, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. Fordjour, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin South in the Central Region, urged the committee to summon the security agencies — the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to appear before Parliament on Monday, April 7, 2025.

“I write to request for the committee to invite the above-stated security agencies under the oversight of the Committee on Defence and Interior to attend upon the Committee on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 1100 hours in the Committee Room of Parliament,” the letter read.

“The purpose of this proposed meeting is to afford the agencies the opportunity to brief the committee and provide updates on investigations being conducted into high-profile reported incidents of serious and urgent public interest,” the letter further stated.

In the letter, he outlined the need for a briefing on three critical incidents: the first involving a National Security-led operation on February 9, 2025, in Sapeiman, which resulted in the discovery of twelve 20-foot containers filled with gold bars and various currencies.

The second focused on two significant cocaine seizures in March, with a combined value of $470 million while the third is on two flights, AirMed Flight N823AM and Cavok Air Antonov An-12B, that landed at Kotoka International Airport from Gran Canaria on March 12 and March 20, respectively, and reportedly departed on March 25.

Response

Responding to the request in a letter, Mr Agalga urged the Assin South Legislator to instead comply with the directive from President John Mahama to collaborate with the security agencies in investigating the drug trafficking allegations.

“In view of the fact that the allegation made by your good self in relation to drug trafficking and money laundering with the involvement of two aircraft namely: AirMed Flight N823 AM and Cavok Air Antonov ANI2B which landed at the Kotoka Airport border on the commission of crime, it is important that you collaborate with the security agencies to expose any wrongdoing and also to safeguard the reputation of our beloved country,” he said.

“Subsequently, urgent steps will be taken to invite the agencies listed above and the National Security Coordinator to brief the committee on the outcome of investigations conducted so far in relation to your request when the House reconvenes,” he added.

 Families of Philippine drug war victims who say they have been targeted by a “coordinated” campaign of online harassment urged law enforcers on Friday to investigate the attacks and identify those responsible to help them pursue legal action.

Among them is Sheerah Escudero, whose 18-year-old brother’s bloodied body was found in 2017 with hands bound and head wrapped in packaging tape. Like others who have spoken out, she has faced intense harassment online since former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11 and taken to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he awaits trial.

“The families have been subjected to online bashing and intimidation. They’ve been called liars, paid hacks and fake victims,” said Katherine Panguban of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, who is representing Escudero and other victims.

Escudero previously told Reuters her Facebook account had been flooded with comments and direct messages calling her a drug addict and a liar for seeking justice in her brother’s case, and accusing her of being paid to malign Duterte.

Escudero and four others, including Kristina Conti, a human rights lawyer representing drug war victims who has also been attacked online, called on the National Bureau of Investigation to trace the identities and IP addresses of the individuals behind the social media attacks and spread of false information.

Conti previously said such tactics increasingly aimed to discredit families of those killed.

“We hope the NBI can assist in unmasking the individuals responsible so appropriate legal action can be taken,” Panguban said.

Beyond the online attacks, a wave of false claims has swept social media, with Duterte supporters likening his arrest to “kidnapping.” Reuters also found paid Facebook advertisements promoting the former president.

Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016-2022, is facing allegations of crimes against humanity for overseeing death squads in his anti-drugs crackdown that left thousands dead.

he 80-year-old Duterte, who could become the first Asian ex-head of state to go on trial in The Hague, has said he takes full responsibility for his administration’s “war on drugs.”

Source: reuters.com

Economist and finance lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Lord Mensah

Economist and finance lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Lord Mensah, has emphasised the potential economic effects of President Donald Trump’s 10% tariff policy.

According to him, countries with negative trade balances, those that import more goods from the US than they export, will be largely affected by these tariffs.

President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, imposed far-reaching new tariffs on nearly all US trading partners.

China was slapped with a 34% tax on imports, 20% on the European market, among others that threaten to dismantle much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars.

In a post on his X page, as sighted by GhanaWeb Business, Prof Mensah indicated that nations with heavy reliance on US imports, and less capacity to offset those imports with their own exports to the US will face significant economic setbacks.

“Trump’s 10% tariffs: Countries with negative trade balances with the US will suffer the most. That is, countries with more imports and fewer exports to the US will suffer the worst,” he wrote.

The economist further advised affected nations to assess their trade dynamics with the US and find ways to adapt to the new trade environment.

“Just find your level,” Prof Mensah suggested on X.

By this, the finance lecturer wishes that such countries will alter their economic strategies to mitigate the effects of these tariffs.

Trumps 10% tariffs: Countries with negative trade balances with the US will suffer the most. That is, countries with more imports and fewer exports to the US will suffer the worst. Just find your level.

— The Prof (@ProfLordMensah) April 4, 2025

SP/AE

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured Ghanaian students studying abroad of government plans to increase their monthly stipends.

While specific figures were not disclosed, the Minister said consultations would soon begin to review and enhance the allowances provided to students under government-supported programmes.

Addressing members of the Ghanaian community in Cotonou, Benin, during an official visit, Mr. Ablakwa also pledged efforts to ensure the timely disbursement of stipends, which students say are often delayed.

Currently, Ghanaian students in Benin enrolled in a one-year exchange programme receive a monthly stipend of CFA 45,000 (GHS 1,147), along with a one-time book allowance of CFA 60,000 (GHS 1,500), and another CFA 60,000 for medical expenses.

About 40 students from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC) and the University of Ghana are currently studying French in Benin, with 30 more from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) expected to join them next week.

The students raised concerns about recent changes to the programme’s duration, stating that “the 12-month duration has been reduced to six months,” making it difficult to meet academic requirements.

According to records from Ghana’s mission in Benin, over 2,000 Ghanaian nationals currently reside in the country.

The Minister’s engagement with the Ghanaian community in Cotonou brought together more than 100 participants. He emphasized that the visit forms part of a new policy to engage with Ghanaians abroad quarterly and respond proactively to their concerns. Benin and Nigeria are the first countries on his travel schedule.

Ghana’s senior women’s national team held their first training session in Senegal ahead of their upcoming friendlies.

The Black Queens are in Senegal for a nine-day training tour as part of their preparations for the delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

All 22 players called up by head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren were present for the team’s training session on Thursday, April 3.

The faces present included the five players who were left out for the February camping in Morocco during the Swede’s first assignment.

Ghana will face Senegal in back-to-back games on April 5 and April 8.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré secured the rights to construct and operate a state-of-the-art container terminal at Tema Port.

A special report drew parallels between Bolloré’s concession in Ghana and a similar deal he obtained for Lomé Port in Togo, allegedly in exchange for financing the 2010 re-election campaign of Togo’s president, Faure Gnassingbé.

“On 26 February this year, Bolloré and two of his fellow executives admitted, in a plea bargain, to bribing the Togolese president in exchange for favors at the port, and were fined €375,000 each. Bolloré’s company paid a €12 million fine (see Box, Bolloré – a monopoly in every port). The judge was so shocked by what they had done in Togo that she rejected details of the plea bargain and ordered a trial of the executives,” the report added.

He was however accused of fraud in 2021.

Read the full story originally published on April 12, 2021, by face2faceafrica.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré has been accused of shady deals and underhand dealings in the processes leading to his company’s control of Ghana’s largest port, the Tema Harbour.

In a special report, Pan African publication African-Confidential uncovered how Bolloré’s firm, Bolloré Africa Logistics, won the right to build and run a state-of-the-art container terminal at Ghana’s Tema port.

The report described the new container port of Tema as a “lifeline not only for Ghana but for landlocked Burkina Faso and Mali, through their 70% owned joint venture with the Ghana government, Meridian Port Services (MPS).”

The agreement, which was signed under the administration of then Ghanaian President John Mahama, became a subject of a ministerial investigation following his defeat in 2016 to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who secured a second term in December 2020.

The ministerial committee report said the French billionaire and his partners persuaded Mahama to award MPS a new container terminal contract in secret in breach of the country’s procurement laws.

It also said MPS overstated its planned investment which won tax holidays worth $832 million from Ghana’s parliament and that the agreement surreptitiously cut Ghana’s equity in MPS to 15% after first agreeing to 30%.

The committee’s report further claimed that Bolloré and his partners persuaded the government to allow it a monopoly on handling containers, “putting thousands of jobs at other port concerns at risk and driving up prices, and to set tariffs.”

The committee’s report also showed how Bolloré and his partners reduced the fees payable to the government over the life of the concession by $4.1 billion.

To this end, the committee concluded that the deal did not inure to the benefit of Ghana and recommended a renegotiation which the Akufo-Addo administration ignored.

“The terms of the agreements between MPS and the state are so tilted against Ghana’s interests, concluded the report, delivered to ministers in February 2018, they should be renegotiated immediately. Yet the much-criticized contracts are still unchanged,” Africa Confidential said.

Africa Confidential further reported that the history of those relations shows “serious ethical professional deficiencies” with the result that “the engagements have to be carefully and deliberately reviewed.”

The newsletter noted that President Akufo-Addo inherited the situation when he won the 2016 election and “instead of blaming the scandal on his predecessor he has chosen to leave the contracts as they stand while friends and officials of his New Patriotic Party (NPP) take up posts with MPS.”

According to Africa Confidential, although Akufo-Addo faced Mahama in December 2020’s general election, “the topic of the Tema deal did not come up in campaigning.”

“The two men appeared to observe a pact of silence on this and several other instances of alleged bad governance and corruption. Akufo-Addo narrowly won the election (AC Vol 61 No 25). This is the story of how the deal took shape, and how a fightback within the Transport Ministry and the NPP against the MPS deal was finally quashed, and the legendary ability of Vincent Bolloré to accommodate political change asserted itself,” it added.

Bolloré has been accused of running a port monopoly in West Africa as his firm is linked to managing 18 ports in the sub-region.

The report likened Bolloré’s concession of Ghana’s port to one he won for his operations at the port of Lomé, Togo, in return for financing the re-election of the country’s president, Faure Gnassingbé, in 2010.

“On 26 February this year, Bolloré and two of his fellow executives admitted, in a plea bargain, to bribing the Togolese president in exchange for favors at the port, and were fined €375,000 each. Bolloré’s company paid a €12 million fine (see Box, Bolloré – a monopoly in every port). The judge was so shocked by what they had done in Togo that she rejected details of the plea bargain and ordered a trial of the executives,” the report added.

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 In a move to address the gender financing gap, Absa Bank Ghana has launched “She Busi­ness”, an update to its women’s banking prop­osition that offers collateral-free loans of up to GH¢2 million at 10 per cent per annum to eligible female entrepreneurs.

The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader effort to help close Ghana’s estimated $6.1 billion MSME credit gap.

“Today’s launch is not just about updating our proposition. It is a statement of our intent to help women entrepreneurs take advantage of real business op­portunities,” Dr Edward Nartey Botchway, Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana, said.

“For us, it is a compelling opportunity to implement a sys­tem that helps MSMEs thrive,” he stated.

“She Business” has been de­veloped on the successes chalked by EMERGE, Absa’s programme tailored for women-led enterpris­es, which disbursed over GH¢800 million in funding.

The refreshed offering com­bines financial access with advi­sory services, business insurance, market access opportunities, net­working platforms, international trade trips, and more.

In addition, Absa also offers collateralised loans of up to USD 1 million for established SMEs customers, including wom­en-owned businesses, looking to scale further.

Audrey Abakah, Director of SME Banking and Partnerships at Absa Bank Ghana, outlined the strategic evolution of the updat­ed proposition.

“Our approach is based on what women told us they value most: practical support, afford­able credit, and a bank that sees their potential and stands with them at every stage of growth. “She Business” is designed   to deliver on all those needs.” Gottfried Odamtten-Sowah, Head of Entrepreneurship De­velopment at Mastercard Foun­dation Ghana, added.

“It is an honour for the Mas­tercard Foundation to stand with Absa Ghana in this endeavour. We are committed to forging strategic partnerships that address the barriers women en­trepreneurs face, and to creating sustainable pathways for young women and their businesses to flourish,” he indicated.

 BY KINGSLEY ASARE

In a significant move to deepen foreign investment in Ghana, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, met with representatives from British International Investment (BII) to explore strategic opportunities, particularly in agribusiness and the financial sector. 

The meeting highlighted Ghana’s evolving investment landscape, with a focus on leveraging private capital for economic growth. “Ghana is open for business, and we welcome partners ready to grow with us,” Dr. Forson emphasized.

A major highlight of the discussion was Ghana’s upcoming Palm Industry Policy, aimed at diversifying the nation’s agricultural base beyond cocoa. 

The government plans to develop 50,000 hectares of oil palm, beginning with a $100 million investment for the first 20,000 hectares. 

“Our goal is to attract private sector investment into large-scale agribusiness that creates jobs and boosts export earnings,” said Dr. Forson.

The Finance Minister also extended an invitation to BII to support the repositioning and growth of Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), signaling a broader push to strengthen the banking sector. 

BII, which currently holds over $200 million in investments in Ghana—particularly in the energy sector—responded positively, reaffirming their long-term commitment to the country. 

“We see Ghana as a priority market in the region,” BII representatives noted.

In a promising development, BII is considering bringing its full Board to Ghana for the first time in nearly a decade, signaling renewed interest at the highest level. 

The institution also expressed readiness to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), forestry, and other key sectors. 

Dr. Forson concluded, “We are creating the right environment for investors who are committed to sustainable growth and shared prosperity.”

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

 In a significant move to foster economic growth and scientific collabo­ration, Imperial College London in the United Kingdom (UK) has launched its first African hub, Im­perial Global Ghana, in Accra.

This initiative aims to bridge the innovation ecosystems of Ghana and the UK, facilitating the ex­change of ideas, talent, and capital.

President of Imperial College London, Professor Hugh Brady, emphasized the potential of Gha­na’s universities to drive economic growth.

“Our partnerships with Gha­naian institutions will focus on grand challenges such as pandemic preparedness, infectious diseas­es, food and water security, and future cities…We believe that by harnessing the power of Ghana’s universities, we can unlock new opportunities for economic growth and development.”

The College’s President was speaking to a group of Ghanaian journalists specializing in Sci­ence, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) at the prestigious Imperial College London for a transforma­tive, three-day training program.

This initiative was made possible by the British High Commission (BHC) Accra, in collaboration with the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST).

According to the President, the Imperial Global Ghana hub would provide a platform for collabo­ration on research, technology, education, and entrepreneurship between West Africa and the UK.

He said the initiative would build on Imperial’s established partner­ships in the region, including med­ical diagnostics, vaccine research, AI, data science, climate science, sustainable cities, and entrepre­neurship training.

Professor Brady also highlighted the potential of artificial intelli­gence (AI) to democratize research in Ghana.

“AI is one of Imperial’s big strengths, with around 1,000 researchers working on various aspects of AI,” he noted.

Adding that “we’re excited to partner with Ghana through the Imperial-Schmidt AI Fellows Programme, which will support early-career researchers from the University of Ghana and the African Institute of Mathematical Science (AIMS) to collaborate with Imperial’s IX Centre for Artificial Intelligence.”

The Imperial-Schmidt AI Fellows Programme, funded by Schmidt Sciences, he said, would assist talented researchers in using AI in their scientific research while building sustained local ca­pacity at their home institutions.

Imperial College London’s com­mitment to scientific collaboration and innovation is evident in its ranking as the world’s second-best university.

It has a distinguished past that includes pioneering penicillin, holography, and fibre optics,and continues to drive world-changing impact through its research and partnerships.

As Imperial Global Ghana continues to grow, it is expected to support hundreds of academics and entrepreneurs in West Africa, strengthening collaboration on research, technology, education, and entrepreneurship between the region and the UK.

The journalists had earlier emerged victorious in a pitch competition during a week-long capacity-building workshop held in Accra, earning them a spot in the further training at Imperial College London.

The training, which commenced on Monday, March 24, 2025, provided the journalists with a unique, immersive learning expe­rience.

They were accompanied by of­ficials from the MEST, Mrs Gloria Holmes-Graves, KNUST/RAIL, Ms.Gifty Antoinette Hukpati and Mr. Johnson Singir,BHC.

 FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, LONDON, UK (COURTESY BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION/RAIL/KNUST)

Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim

The country’s economy remains heavily informal, with a staggering 92.3percent of business establishments operating outside formal regulatory structures.

This was revealed in the 2024 Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES I) Report launched by the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra on Thursday.

The report shows a three-times increase in the number of business establishments, rising from 0.64 million in 2014 to 1.87 million in 2024.

However, despite the expansion of businesses, informality remains a persistent challenge as “an overwhelming 92.3 percent of enterprises operate informally”.

The data also reveal that older businesses – 50 years and above – tend to operate more informally than younger ones and, over time, more businesses are moving into informality rather than formalising.

On a regional basis, while Greater Accra, Upper East and Upper West have seen an increase in informality, Central and Northern Regions are experiencing a gradual shift toward more formal business operations.

These patterns reflect the evolving nature of business structures across the country.

In view of this, Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim highlighted the pressing need for formalising businesses to enhance economic planning, taxation and social security contributions.

He reiterated that with only 7.7 percent of business falling within the formal sector – adhering to regulatory frameworks, tax obligations and structured employment practices – robust measures must be employed to change the narrative.

He explained that informal businesses typically operate without proper registration, limiting their access to financial support, business development services and legal protections.

“The informal sector remains a double-edged sword – on one hand it provides employment and livelihood opportunities for millions, but on the other it limits economic efficiency and national revenue generation,” he noted.

The report on a sector basis shows that the services sector continues to drive the economy, accounting for 76.7 percent of businesses; however, its share has declined over the decade.

This is followed by industry at 21.1 percent and agriculture at 2.2 percent. But while business numbers have surged, employment growth has been relatively slower – with the number of persons engaged moving from 3.28 million in 2014 to 6.90 million in 2024.

This suggests that while businesses are expanding, they are characterised more by micro-sized businesses which absorb only between one to five persons.

The report further has it that the dominance of micro-sized businesses has become more pronounced, making up 90.4 percent of all businesses with a significant increase from 16.6 percent in 2014.

Meanwhile, the share of medium-sized enterprises, which once held the largest portion at 25.9 percent, has dwindled significantly.

Small businesses represent 8.5 percent, while medium and large enterprises remain rare at 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent respectively.

Micro enterprises are also the largest employers, providing jobs for 2.89 million people – nearly double the workforce of large enterprises. However, the financial stability of businesses remains a challenge.

During his keynote address, Treasurer-Association of Ghana Industries, Raphael Ayitey, emphasised the IBES findings’ importance for shaping future business strategies.

He stated: “There is a growing demand for reliable and timely business data, frequently requested by policymakers and development partners.

“The lack of such data can lead to underestimating the information sector’s contribution to GDP and distort the structure of manufacturing and productivity over time.

“With insights from the IBES report, planners and policymakers now have a clearer understanding of both the formal and informal sectors, paving the way for better-structured business operations in the future”.

The GSS has updated Ghana’s Business database with the 2024 Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES I).

The IBES I report come in several volumes and presents detailed statistics on business growth, employment trends and sectoral distribution, building on data from the previous census conducted in 2014.

The end of the era of the Electronic Transaction Levy, commonly called E-Levy, kicked in fully on Thursday as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) sanctioned its reversal upon the President’s assent of the Bill that abolished the levy.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has since reaffirmed that the E-Levy has been officially abolished as of April 2, 2025, and that any deductions made beyond that date would be fully refunded to affected individuals.

It emphasised that from 00:00 hours on April 2, 2025, no-one should be charged the levy, as it had been completely removed from the country’s tax laws.

“We do recognise that there are practical implications in removing the system. However, any person who suffered E-Levy deduction from April 2 onwards will have their money refunded in line with the President’s directive and the law,” the Commissioner General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong,  said yesterday on the sidelines of a two-day GRA management retreat in Akosombo.

Two of the charging entities have since informed their customers of the cesation of the E-Levy charge.

A message from AT Money to customers said E-Levy had been scrapped from April 2, 2025.

“Accordingly, all E-Levy charged from April 2, 2025 onwards will be refunded within 72 hours,” the message said.

For its part, MTN Mobile Money said the one per cent E-Levy had been abolished and no longer applies to “your momo transactions”.

Refund

Mr Sarpong said the GRA had engaged charging entities such as banks and mobile money operators ahead of the levy’s removal to ensure a smooth transition.

He, however, admitted that some systems were still in the process of being updated.

“We had agreed with them that by the morning of April 3, all charging systems should be taken off, but if for any reason someone has suffered the levy within this period, we will reconcile with the charging entities and ensure all affected customers are duly refunded,” he said. 

Notice

A notice to all charging entities from the GRA late last Wednesday said the GRA Electronic Transfer Levy Management and Assurance System would automatically return a “no charge” on all transactions posted to it by entities from midnight.

It directed all charging entities to cease applying the one per cent E-Levy from midnight on all channels.

“Charging entities must immediately process refunds for any E-Levy amounts deducted from customers effective today, April 2, 2025. Entities are to establish an expedited refund process to handle such cases promptly and maintain proper documentation of all refunds processed.

Reports of such refunds must be submitted to GRA,” the notice said.

“Charging entities are to take the necessary steps to file and pay all outstanding E-Levy charged and collected on all transactions that occurred before April 2, 2025,” it added.

Betting tax

Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has directed lottery operators to stop deducting the 10 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lottery, effective April 2, 2025.

It said players who were charged withholding tax on their winnings on or after April 2, 2025 were entitled to a refund from the lottery operator.

Patrons, it said, were advised to keep receipts or electronic records of their transactions to facilitate any necessary refund process.

“The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority wishes to inform the general public that the 10 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lottery (including gaming, betting, lotto, and any games of chance) has been abolished effective April 2, 2025,” a notice on withholding tax on winnings from lottery said.

Negative impact

Reacting to the scrapping of the E-Levy, the Chief Executive Director (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, said the repeal of the levy was a step in the right direction.

As a public policy watcher, he said the levy was not a well thought-through policy, and was inimical to the previous government’s digital and financial inclusion strategy.

The E-levy, Dr Ashigbey said, resulted even in some job losses, with some mobile money agents having to close some of their shops, and that it resulted in loss of investment for some of the financial technology institutions (fintechs) as well.

“When it happened, it slowed down the rate of growth of mobile money and we have not been able to recover from that.

Though when the reduction was down from 1.5 per cent to one per cent, we saw some recovery. But not back to the rate at which we were going before then. 

“So, the expectation is that now that the E-Levy has been revoked, we should be able to get back to the point of growth, where anybody sending mobile money would not be thinking about the E-Levy anymore,” he said, adding that “the discrimination that existed between mobile money and the banks and all other transactions would have been cured.”

“So when people want to take a decision, they would look at which one is more convenient for them.

If the banks are convenient, they would do the banks.

If the mobile money is convenient, they would do the mobile money,” he said.

That, Dr Ashigbey said, would also mean that customers would have a lot more money in their pockets since the percentage charged on money sent could be used to pay for goods or services.

Moreover, he said, vendors would also get a lot more turnover because “this money that they have to spend would not come to the vendors. Additionally, there would be a lot more transactions.

So the mobile money agents would also get a lot more transactions”.

At the end of the year, he said, the agents could even file their corporate income taxes and pay some taxes to the government, adding that the same way the electronic money issuers (EMIs) increased in volume and value, it would result in more revenues for them, which would result in more profits and that would mean more taxes to the government. 

Refund guidelines

Regarding the refunds that should be done from April 2, 2025 per the directive from the GRA, Dr Ashigbey said the chamber was awaiting specific instructions from the GRA on how that should be done.

“If you have seen the directive from the GRA, there is some refund that should be done from April 2, 2025, the day on which the assent and the gazette was done.

“So, for that one, we are waiting for GRA to issue guidelines on how the April 2, 2025 refunds are going to be done,” he said, adding that in the event of any inadvertent wrongful charge that would have happened after the midnight of April 3, 2025, “the EMIs would do the refund themselves.

I’m sure within a week, they would do that refund when it happens.”

Dr Ashigbey said all the five electronic money issuers went live on Wednesday night following the directive from the GRA, and any one that had engaged in transaction on Thursday morning would realise that E-Levy or the tax was zero for the majority of the channels.

He, however, said mobile money used various channels to do those transactions and that there were some third-party channels or partners, as well as some offline partners, and that as a result of the “shortness of the time between when the gazette was received and when GRA issued the written instructions and midnight, a few of them might fall within the cracks”.

Asked whether he had received any complaint of wrongful deduction, he responded in the negative, saying that if anyone had any complaint, they would have channellel it to the EMI that would have wrongfully deducted them. 

Traders react

Traders at Adabraka, a suburb of Accra, have expressed relief and optimism following the government’s repeal of the E-Levy.

Some traders, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said they were already witnessing the benefits, as mobile money transactions now came without the additional charges that previously cut their earnings.

One such trader, TsoTsoe Tagoe, described the scrapping of the E-Levy as a welcome relief, particularly for small-scale businesses like hers, which handle transactions ranging from as little as GH¢1 to larger sums.

She shared how she recently transferred GH¢202 without any deductions, confirming the change first-hand.

According to her, the levy had made it difficult to accumulate small earnings, but with its removal, she said she could now save and reinvest in her business without losing money to transaction charges.

She urged the government to uphold policies that would drive economic growth and alleviate poverty.

Another shop owner, Regina Darko, also commended the government for scrapping the levy, stating that it had been a financial burden, especially for business owners who conducted multiple transactions on a daily basis.

“I’m someone who sends a lot of money and does a lot of transactions, and each time, something is deducted.

So if, God-willing, they have scrapped it, those little charges will now be mine,” she said. 

Ms Darko expressed confidence that the government would not reintroduce the tax, at least under the current administration.

However, another trader, Samuel Teye, despite echoing similar sentiments, cautioned against the levy’s possible return in the future.

While he acknowledged the relief that had come with its removal, he hoped the decision would not be reversed.

He urged the government to ensure that the repeal remained permanent, saying businesses needed long-term certainty to operate effectively.

The trade war initiated by the United States was a logical consequence for the EU countries, resulting from the weakening of their econo­mies due to the Russophobic policies they pursued, says Sergey Mironov, leader of the “A Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth” party and faction in the State Duma.

“Even at the height of the Cold War, European leaders concluded agreements with the Soviet Union, including agree­ments on the supply of critical energy resources,” recalls the chairman of the SRZP.

“However, nowadays Euro­pean politicians, affected by the disease of Russophobia, have forgotten the importance of co­operation with Russia and began biting the hand that fed them. And they do not merely bite, but dream of destroying Russia and seizing its resources. This is naive and suicidal.”

The Russian MP noted that the course toward the econom­ic suppression of the EU was launched by the United States long before Trump returned to power. One of the most striking episodes of the undeclared trade war was the bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines under Joe Biden, Mironov reminded.

“The Europeans were left without cheap Russian gas but remained silent, thereby signing the verdict on their economy. Now Trump is just continuing what was started and intensifying the pressure, taking advantage of the weakness of the European Union.

This is payback for Russopho­bia, due to which Europe has deprived itself of vital trade re­lations with Russia,” the Socialist leader stated.

“Now the EU has only one chance to survive in the trade war with the United States—to lift anti-Russian sanctions, resume cooperation with Russia, and stop its rampant and ruinous support for the Kiev regime.

But the Europeans must un­derstand that business will not be conducted as usual.

Russia will scrupulously determine whether, and to what extent, it needs to resume cooperation with any particular EU country,” concluded Sergey Mironov.