GUTA Clarifies President’s Comments on E-Levy as Personal Opinion
GUTA Clarifies Leadership's Position on E-Levy, Emphasizes Personal Opinion of President
- The statement said Dr. Obeng’s comments reflect his personal opinion
- Dr. Obeng had previously argued that keeping the E-Levy could help support SMEs
- The association also acknowledged the importance of innovative solutions to support business growth
The leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has distanced itself from recent remarks made by its President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, advocating for the retention of the Electronic Levy (E-Levy).
In a statement released on January 13, GUTA clarified that Dr. Obeng’s comments reflect his personal opinion and do not represent the official position of the association.
Dr. Obeng had previously argued that keeping the E-Levy could help support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to funding the proposed Women’s Development Bank.
He suggested that the levy could provide a stable revenue stream for various development projects, including financial empowerment for women and SMEs in trade.
However, GUTA emphasized in its release that while it respects Dr. Obeng’s views, they do not align with the association’s stance. “We wish to emphatically state that his opinion does not represent the stand of GUTA on the matter,” the statement read.
The association also acknowledged the importance of innovative solutions to support business growth and empower women in trade but reiterated that decisions on revenue generation mechanisms should ultimately be made by the government.
Dr. Obeng’s position contrasts with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has promised to abolish the E-Levy, citing its negative impact on Ghanaians, particularly businesses.
The E-Levy, introduced by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, charges a one-percent fee on electronic transactions and has faced significant criticism from business groups.
