The offer of assistance by the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MAAG) to enable the smooth administration of the electronic transactions levy (E-Levy) has encouraged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He believes it is important that direct stakeholders, such as the association, voice their concerns early on, and that the government considers those issues so that the legislation is relevant for both the state and the private sector when it is finalized.
The National Executive of the 300,000-member MAAG made a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.
"I am grateful for this offer of collaboration, for the notion of forming an alliance to work together to achieve our goals." President Akufo-Addo stated, "I embrace this offer of collaboration, the concept of an alliance to work together to explore how best the new tax may be implemented and developed."
In response to the association's request that some of its members serve on the boards of other state institutions and bodies, the President stated that while most of these boards were regulatory in nature and thus could not have the people they regulated as board members, the government would try to meet them halfway.
"The more collaboration we have in the economy between the government and the private sector, the better for the economy and the people of our nation," he stated.
Security
President Akufo-Addo stated that the government will develop efficient measures to retaliate vehemently against criminal syndicates assaulting mobile money companies, claiming that allowing them to continue would be a big setback for the government and Ghanaians in general.
Attacks on mobile money carriers by criminal groups, he said, were unacceptable, and the situation was damaging to the establishment of such a lawful sector.
"I want to promise you that we will do everything we can as a state to establish a peaceful and stable environment in which you can conduct your work," he added.
President Akufo-Addo informed the association's executive that he would make contact with them, particularly the security agencies, so that they could work together. Association
Dela Abotsi, the association's President, expressed concern that since the introduction of mobile money transfer over a decade ago, the rate has remained constant and never increased, and asked the President to intervene, particularly in cases where vendors have been attacked and even killed, and the telcos have refused to help.
He cited examples of members of his group who were breadwinners for their families being assaulted and killed by armed robbers with no support from anybody.
Evans Otumfuo, the Association's Secretary, praised the government for its digitisation efforts, which resulted in the introduction of Mobile Money Interoperability, which has benefited MoMo users and won Ghana the title of first in the world.