The E-Levy when introduced shall therefore send us to our graves

The Concern Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) has disclosed that the E-Levy when introduced shall therefore send them to their graves. 

The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana(C-DAG) wishes to draw the attention of the media and the Ghanaian populace to the results of a survey conducted by the Association on the Electronic Transaction Levy.

The purpose of the survey was to find out what the views of our members were on the subject before we could make a reflective decision.

In a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), during the survey, drivers of the various unions such as GPRTU, PROTOA, Cooperative, and Concerned were randomly questioned about their position on the levy.

Results of the survey which was conducted in four regions which are Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, and the Central regions are as follows...

In the Ashanti Region out of 50 drivers who were interviewed randomly, 31 rejected the E-levy outrightly, 9 supported the government’s decision to pass the levy.

However, it must be noted that these 9 drivers are owners of the cars they operate with. 10 drivers appeared to be indifferent.

Again, in the Eastern Region, 29 out of 50 drivers who were picked randomly for the interview said no to the passage of the levy, 15 expressed approval whilst 6 persons failed to make known their positions.

In addition, Greater Accra Region, 35 drivers out of 50 posited against the levy, 5 are in agreement with the government whereas 10 drivers were indifferent.

Finally, 35 drivers in the Central Region who spoke also rejected the levy whilst 8 said they have already lost trust in the government and that they are no more concerned about whatever decision the government takes.

"Fellow Ghanaians, it is, therefore, crystal clear that drivers in the country are not willing to see the levy passed and in respect to that, the association wishes to state categorically that we shall not countenance the passage of the levy in any form", it added.

"We find this introduction as a backward and retrogressive move which would further cripple our business when formally accepted", it stressed.

"It must be noted that most of us rely on electronic means to purchase fuel, spare parts, fuel and pay for the services of mechanics, paying for insurance, renewing licenses, roadworthy certificates, and insurance as well as transferring our daily sales to owners of our vehicles", it said

"The passage of the levy would therefore represent an extra operational cost to our business", it explained.

"We find it to be absurd to pay extra fees on acquiring a service such as a license renewal", it stated.

"It must be noted that the government has subtly made it compulsory for drivers to pay for license renewal and other services at the DVLA electronically", it lamented 

They, therefore, outrightly reject the E-Levy in its current or any other form and urge the Executive, Legislature, and all relevant stakeholders including well-meaning Ghanaians of whom most are their clients to trash that conception.

It must be noted that the primary basis for the rejection of the levy by most of the persons we engaged is that, the government is already generating huge revenues from resources such as cocoa, timber, gold, and other resources.

They also observed that about 11 different taxes have been placed on the passage of petrol in the country and serving as a huge revenue source for the government.

"What is only left is a judicious use of the revenues mobilized by the government", it added

"It falls in place to perhaps remind the Vice President Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia of his famous mantra than as a vice presidential candidate, “Drivers are suffering” and make him know that under the government he is part, drivers are rather dying", it stressed

"Our wives are divorcing us because of our inability to properly take care of our homes as a result of the incessant increment of petrol prices and spare parts", it stated.

"we’d like to urge the government and all well-meaning Ghanaians to forgo this obnoxious levy", it urges