2022 Budget: No public worker was laid off despite impact of COVID-19 - Ofori-Atta

• The minister of finance has indicated that despite the effects of COVID-19, no public sector worker was sacked
• According to Ofori-Atta, the government still managed to pay public sector workers their monthly salaries
• Ken Ofori-Atta said this while highlighting the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy

The minister of finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has indicated that despite the effects of coronavirus on the economy, no public sector worker was sacked.

He made this known while presenting the 2022 fiscal Economic Policy and Budget Statement on Wednesday, November 17, while highlighting the negative impact of covid-19 on the economy.

“I am proud to announce that not a single public sector worker was laid off as a result of the impact of the pandemic on our economy and finance," he said.

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According to Ofori-Atta, the government still managed to pay public sector workers their monthly salaries.

“We have managed to pay them monthly and we are grateful to the unions for their cooperation in this regard,” Ofori-Atta said.

The finance minister further told parliament that small and medium enterprises have been the hardest hit following the outbreak of the pandemic.

The government, he said, has initiated steps to support the SMEs cope with the situation.

Mobile Money transactions to be taxed as gov't introduces 'e-levy'

Ofori-Atta has announced that a new levy will be charged by the government in 2022 on all electronic transactions.

This, according to him will widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector.

He said the new electronic levy which will cover mobile money transactions and other electronic bank transfers will take effect from February 1, 2022.

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Parliament approves 2022 budget without controversial 1.75 percent e-levy

He said after considerable deliberations, the government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector.

This, he said shall be known as the ‘Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy’.

He further explained that the new E-levy will be a 1.75 percent charge on all electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances.

Source: YEN.com.gh