Ambrose Dery, the Minister of the Interior, has joined the chorus of voices urging support for the contentious Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy). Mr Dery, who is also a Nandom Member of Parliament, has emphasized that the levy is a youth-oriented policy that would assist to reduce young unemployment in the country.
"One of the reasons we collect this tax is to offer work for our boys and girls, sons and daughters, and you say we shouldn't?
"Now you have NABCo personnel demanding payment. That's preferable than forming a group of unemployed grads. At the very least, they are paid to look up, and we are certain that we will pay them," he stated at the government's E levy sensitisation Town in Wa.
He emphasized that the levy will enable the government to maintain its intervention programs, such as the Free SHS, School Feeding Program, and Farmer Subsidies, among others.
The Minister also slammed the National Democratic Congress's plan for the government to seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"The one that offends me the most is that we should go to the IMF." We had already visited the IMF. What was the outcome? "Is there a lot of youth unemployment?" he inquired.
Mr Dery went on to query the opposition's attitude on the measure, saying, "Our opponent says their reason against the E-Levy is to protect the poor, but how much money do the needy have?"