Former Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has criticized the controversial e-levy, saying it played a big role in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) election loss.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, March 20, she said she opposed the e-levy because it did not help Ghanaians. Instead, it took money from people who were already struggling.
“I didn’t vote for the e-levy, and I have no regrets. It did not benefit Ghanaians. It only made life harder, especially for poor people,” she said.
She explained that the tax mostly affected low-income workers who used mobile money to support their families in rural areas.
Adwoa Safo also pointed out that the government had promised the e-levy would help Ghana avoid seeking financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the country still had to turn to the IMF despite introducing the tax.
She said Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise to remove the e-levy in his 2024 campaign proves that the tax was a bad idea.
“If the e-levy was good, why did we still go to the IMF? It didn’t make sense,” she added.
She concluded that the e-levy failed in its purpose and only made life harder for ordinary Ghanaians.
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Meanwhile, The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has initiated disciplinary action against former MP and Minister of State, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, for making public comments that the party claims sow discontent within the party.
In a formal notice signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP stated that Adwoa Safo’s remarks on Joy News’ Pulse Show violated directives instructing all party members to refrain from discussing matters that could incite unrest, negativity, and internal divisions.
“As she is aware, the directive clearly states that all party members must cease discussing issues that cause unrest, negativism, and discontent in the media or related platforms,” the statement read.
The party emphasized that, as a former Deputy Majority Leader and Minister under the NPP government, Adwoa Safo was expected to uphold the principles of discipline, loyalty, and unity.
“Her failure to do so not only reflects poorly on her but also in contravention of Article 3(5) of the party’s constitution, which among others enjoins us to promote and defend the good name of the party.”
