The Minority in Parliament has called for a permanent halt to any wallet-to-bank or bank-to-wallet transfer charge introduced outside parliamentary approval, following controversy over the recently announced 0.75% levy on mobile money transactions.
This comes after the Bank of Ghana directed Mobile Money Fintech Limited to suspend the planned charge pending further stakeholder consultations.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Friday May 29, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that no such levy should be introduced unless it is backed by an Act of Parliament.
“The Bank of Ghana must permanently prohibit any wallet to bank or bank to wallet charge equivalent to a transaction levy unless authorized by an Act of Parliament,” he said.
He also called for a legal opinion from the Attorney General on the constitutionality of imposing such charges through fintech operators, arguing that it should not be used to bypass parliamentary oversight.
“…the Attorney General must issue a formal opinion on the constitutionality of imposing levy equivalent charges through fintech operators to bypass Parliament and Article 174,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin further urged the Finance Minister to appear before Parliament to explain the circumstances surrounding the proposed charge and whether the executive had prior knowledge or involvement.
“…. the Finance Minister must appear before Parliament to explain the decisions behind MMFL’s announcement and confirm whether the executive knew of or encouraged it,” he said.
He added that the government should apologise to Ghanaians if it is found to have breached earlier commitments on taxation and levies.
“Finally, the government must eat a humble pie by apologising to Ghanaians, the very people it promised for breaking a solemn electoral promise,” he said.
The Minority maintains that it is not satisfied with the suspension of the levy alone, insisting that full accountability is needed on how the policy was introduced in the first place.
