Mr. Elli Hini, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Mobile Money, has offered hope to subscribers and agents of Mobile Money service over the imminent 1.75% tax.
According to him, the telecos and the government were in deliberations to make sure their customers are not unduly affected by the tax, which had agitated a lot of Ghanaians.
It would be recalled that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the 2022 Budget presentation in Parliament on November 17, 2021, announced that the government would impose a new levy on electronic transactions in 2022 to broaden the tax net.
He noted that after much thought, the government had decided to impose a fee on all electronic transactions to be known as the e-levy (Electronic Transaction Levy), in order to broaden the tax net and rope in the informal sector.
Mr. Hini said at the MTN Mobile Money Awards, held over the weekend that the outcome of the discussions being held behind closed doors would be made public soon.
He stated that, following the imposition of the tax, the Telcos were actively engaged in discussions on the issue, and that ‘momo’ subscriber and agents would be duly informed about the outcome.
Mr. Hini stated that, MTN Mobile Money would look into ways to assist agents in growing their companies, and that they should not be alarmed, because there were possibilities for collaboration to discuss the future of the business.
He expressed confidence that at the end of the day, the outcome would be known, and the measures required to ensure their continued operation would be implemented.
Touching on the awards itself, Mr. Ellis Hini explained that the gesture was to show appreciation to them for their hard work and commitment, as well as serve as motivation to go the extra mile.
According to him, about 400 merchants and agents were rewarded in different categories of prizes to motivate them, adding that the awardees received motorbikes, 43 and 55-inch television sets, including CCTV cameras, to enhance security in the line of duty.
He stated that the CCTV cameras would go a long way in monitoring and capturing criminals and armed robbers who might attack the merchants and agents in the course of their operations.
Mr. Hini urged the agents to always remain vigilant at their work places, and cautioned them not to expose themselves to fraudsters by carrying monies to their homes, advising that the banks were safer than keeping monies at home. The MTN Mo Mo CEO entreated them to keep monies away from public eyes in line of duty.
He disclosed that, MTN had put measures in place to ensure that Momo fraud becomes expensive for unscrupulous people who were into the act, and said when MTN detects the phones used to defraud people, they were blocked and render useless.
He also revealed that the company was negotiating with the police to improve on visibility to protect the merchants and agents, and entreated them to close on time for their own safety and lives.
Mr. Francis Wiredu of Franco Limited (Ashanti Region) won the ultimate prize of a brand new 2021 Hyundai Cresta and a CCTV camera, while Ophelia 78 Ventures from the Northern Region, first runner up, took home a brand new motorbike and CCTV camera, with the second runner up, Allotey Ankra Ventures from the Bono Region receiving a 55-inches television and a CCTV camera.
