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 MoMAG lauds govt decision to remove E-Levy

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• Mr Agyemang

The  Mobile Money Advocacy Group Ghana (MoMAG) has expressed optimism that the removal of the e-levy will significantly enhance their business operations.

Finance Minister-Designate Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, during his recent vetting, announced plans to abolish the E-levy in the government’s first budget.

Speaking to Citi Business News at the induction cere­mony for the association’s new executives, MoMAG President, Edward Ofori Agyemang, said scrapping the E-levy would en­courage deposits from customers, which had previously declined due to the levy.

He said “Now that the gov­ernment has said it is going to abolish the E-levy, it is a happy moment for us and it is going to enhance our business. When there wasn’t E-levy, people used to come to the agents to depos­it money and they will send it through their wallet. But when they introduced E-levy, when people come they say, we the agents should send the money straight because they want to avoid E-levy.”

“We are fighting that the government should take off the E-levy and we thank God the government is going to take off E-levy and it will help us. We also encourage more consumers to deposit money on their wallet,” he added.

The E-levy, which was in­troduced as a tax on electronic financial transactions, sparked widespread criticism from citi­zens and businesses alike.

It was seen as a deterrent to the adoption of digital pay­ment systems, especially among the unbanked population who relied heavily on mobile money services.

Industry stakeholders believe that eliminating the levy will not only boost mobile money usage but also contribute to broader economic activities, as more peo­ple will be inclined to use digital platforms for transactions.

The Bank of Ghana has meanwhile charged stakeholders in the mobile money sector to prioritise safeguarding the in­dustry and ensuring its sustained growth.

Director of Fintech and Innovation at the Central Bank, Kwame Oppong, stressed that mobile money services were critical to advancing financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.

Mr Oppong further disclosed that Ghana had been ranked as the best in the world for Mobile Money regulation, according to the 2024 GSMA Mobile Money Regulatory Index (MMRI)

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Finance Minister to present budget today 

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All is set for the presentation of Ghana’s budget statement and economic policy by the Finance Minister,  Cassiel Ato Forson to Parliament today. 

This would be the new government’s maiden budget since ascending to the throne in January.

Ghanaians are highly optimistic that the budget would go a long way to cushion people.

They are expecting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will keep it promise and remove the E-levy, Betting Tax, and COVID-19 levy among other tax cuts.

Additional,  it is expected that some measures will be introduced to stabilise the local currency and some prudent ways to ensure food security to reduce food inflation.

Ahead of that the Finance Minister has organised national economic dialogue,  engageg over 60,000 youths on X,  and market women among others to seek their views.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme 

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New BoG building: $230m paid to contractor, $31.8m outstanding – Dr Asiama

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The new Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has revealed that the state under the previous Nana Akufo-Addo administration has paid $230 million to the contractor working on the new BoG building project, with an outstanding balance of $31.8 million still owed to the construction firm.

He disclosed that the total cost of the project has risen to $261.8 million, with the payments to the contractor being made as recently as February this year.

“As of February this year, a total of approximately $230 million has been paid towards the project, with an outstanding balance of $31.8 million still due to the contractor,” he stated in parliament on Wednesday, March 5.

Dr Asiama also noted that an additional $48.3 million has been paid in taxes and levies associated with the construction of the building.

In addition to the main building, Dr Asiama explained that several other facilities were part of the project, including an Integrated Communication and Computing (ICC) system and Network Infrastructure, which cost $8.6 million.

Other expenditures included integrated electronic security systems at $15.8 million and furniture and furnishings, which amounted to $11.1 million.

He emphasised that these investments are aimed at ensuring the Bank of Ghana operates in a secure and technologically advanced environment, in line with the needs of a modern central bank.

In November 2024, former President Nana Akufo-Addo officially inaugurated the facility to serve as the new headquarters of BoG.

The state-of-the-art facility designed to symbolise financial strength and modernity is situated in the heart of the national capital.

The new facility marked a historic milestone in the evolution of the country’s central bank, which has been a pillar of the nation’s economic independence since its establishment in 1957.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Charterhouse announces the Business Elevate Series with launch of ‘The Gastro Feastival’

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Charterhouse, Ghana’s leading event management and audiovisual production company, is marking its 25th anniversary of delivering top-tier events with the introduction of an exciting new initiative: The Business Elevate Series.

 This innovative series is designed to shine a spotlight on key economic sectors through a series of dynamic B2B and B2C events, including industry conferences, seminars, and exhibitions.

Kicking off the series is The Gastro Feastival, a groundbreaking annual food industry festival that will showcase Ghana’s rich and diverse food ecosystem and agribusinesses from production to consumption.

The launch event will take place on Friday, March 7, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Grand Arena (Accra International Conference Centre).

This landmark event will bring together food industry stakeholders, enthusiasts, experts, and organizations to highlight the food industry’s critical role in Ghana’s socio-economic development and culture.

It will also promote food security, digital innovation, women’s empowerment, youth employment in agribusiness, and sustainable practices.

The Business Elevate Series is a game-changing initiative designed to foster growth and transformation across multiple sectors. With Charterhouse’s deep expertise in organizing impactful meetings, the series aims to unlock investment opportunities, drive innovation, and catalyze social and economic change.

The Gastro Feastival will address six major pillars that drive industry transformation: Investment Opportunities; Job Creation; Innovation, Technology, and Digitization; Youth Involvement (entrepreneurship and career opportunities); Women’s Involvement; Environmental and Social Governance (ESG); Export Opportunities

The event will also establish a Resource Bank, spotlighting key growth opportunities and ensuring the effective allocation of resources to transform Ghana’s food industry.

The Gastro Feastival is a Charterhouse initiative, with Kosmos Innovation Centre as the technical partner.

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