Dr. John Kumah, the Deputy Finance Minister, has disputed that the Electronic Transactions Levy will impede the payment of tithes and other religious requirements (E-levy).
Dr. John Kumah remarked on Friday that the government does not tax religious people's tithes and offerings.
"The claim that E-levy will tax tithes and offerings is a total fabrication. "The E-levy has no bearing on the Church's tithes and offerings, nor on Zakat," he explained.
In an interview with Benjamin Akakpo on JoyNews' AM show, the Deputy Minister said that banks charge customers who use their services to pay their tithe, but that the fees have no effect on the money remitted.
"Assuming you write a check for GH2000 as your tithe, your bank will charge you for the service of writing a check. Is this an indication that you're being taxed for your tithe?
"Assume I got in my car, got gas, went to the bank, and withdrew GH2000 to pay my tithing. Is the cost of transportation to the bank and church included in the tithe I pay? As a result, this is just propaganda designed to instill unwarranted fear among the public.
"If you choose to pay your tithing of GH2000, the church will get precisely GH2000."
As a result, Dr John Kumah urged the people to dismiss statements made by Ningo-Prampram MP Sam Nartey George that the charge would harm tithing.
"There's a distinction to be made between utilizing Momo and telling us we're taxing your giving and tithing." "They're not the same thing," Dr. Kumah emphasized.
Payment of tithes and other religious responsibilities will be affected, according to Mr Sam George, if the e-levy law is implemented as it is today.
"An problem that has not been clarified is the mosque's tithes and offerings, as well as the Zakat. We are aware that we can now make these payments online. Churches have not received any of the exclusions that have been granted," despite suggestions that they should.
He indicated that if churches register as businesses, they will not be excluded from paying to the platform.
"A tax-compliant individual must hold a Merchant SIM." Tithes, offertories, and Zakat are now tax free, according to the legislation. So, how does a church keep a Merchant SIM and pay taxes on tax-exempt tithes, offertories, and Zakat?" He interrogated.
On Thursday, April 28, 2022, the MP made the claims on the Super Morning Show, ahead of the May 1 introduction of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).