'We support public education on E-levy, not the levy itself' — MoMo agents make double U-turn

The General Secretary of the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG) Evans Otumfou has accused the media of misrepresenting the leadership in their reports on the meeting the group had with President Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday at the Jubilee House.

After endorsing the E-levy, he made another U-turn that they only support the public education on the E-levy and not the levy itself.

“Looking at the media presentation of the information over there, there is no way our members will support that particular media reportage. That is not exactly what we went to communicate,” he told 3FM Sunrise on Tuesday May 11.

Evans Otumfou added that they talked about the security of mobile money agents and their workers, the cost of operating business and the need for government to support their business but however the kind of reportage the media have given to their meeting with President Akufo-Addo rather won't make anybody happy with the MMAAG executives.

He emphasised that their Association does not support the E-Levy policy and its implementation contrary to the news reports that they have given their hundred per cent (100%) support to the controversial levy.

He told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Wednesday 12 May, 2022 that the leadership of MMAAG only meant they support the public education on E-Levy when they met with the President at the Jubilee House.

“Not that we generally support the E-Levy, it is the support of the education on the E-levy that we meant. We are not in support of any tax handle that impacts negatively on our businesses and the people of Ghana,” Otumfou said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Mobile Money Agents that their concerns regarding the e-levy will be taken into account by the government.

He said this when the MoMo Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG) paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, May 10.

Mr Akufo-Addo thanked the association for agreeing to partner with the government in ensuring that the E-levy becomes a success.

“I am also very very encouraged and grateful by this offer of partnership to make sure this controversial tax is successfully administered,” the President said.

He added, “I think it is appropriate that stakeholders like you voice out your concerns as you did and that these concerns are taken into account by government so that when the law is finally shaped like it has been, it's one that's meaningful for the state and it's equally meaningful for the private sector operatives who are in this area.”

Members of MMAAG assured Mr Akufo-Addo that they will support the e-levy and make it successful.

They described themselves as allies, not opposers of the policy.

The e-levy started on Sunday, May 1.