Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has questioned the suspension of the proposed 0.75% charge on Mobile Money wallet-to-bank transfers, describing the move as an attempt to introduce “hidden charges” on Ghanaians outside parliamentary scrutiny.
According to him, unlike the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) introduced under the previous Akufo-Addo administration, the latest proposed Mobile Money charge was not brought before Parliament for approval.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, Afenyo-Markin said government’s explanation that the implementation had been suspended for “further consultation” raises more questions than answers.
“They are now purporting to say that they are suspending their levy,” he said.
The Minority Leader explained that telecom subscribers had earlier received notifications indicating that from June 1, 2026, transfers from MoMo wallets to bank accounts would attract a 0.75% fee per transaction, capped at GH¢5.
The announcement, which triggered widespread public criticism on social media, was later suspended by the Bank of Ghana pending further stakeholder engagement.
But Afenyo-Markin argued that the process lacked transparency from the onset.
“The question is, what is further consultation in this context? Were these not the same people who, while in opposition, insisted that there must be broad consultation before policies are introduced?” he quizzed.
He further accused government of attempting to use Mobile Money Fintech Limited and the Bank of Ghana as vehicles to implement what he described as a levy without parliamentary approval.
“The worst part of it is that this time they did not even come to Parliament,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with the Akufo-Addo administration’s handling of the E-Levy, Afenyo-Markin maintained that despite public opposition to the tax at the time, the previous government followed due process by presenting the proposal through the national budget and subsequently laying legislation before Parliament.
“Government made the announcement through the budget and came to Parliament for a law for the purposes of this levy,” he stressed.
The Minority is now demanding that the Finance Minister appears before Parliament to explain the circumstances surrounding the proposed charges.
“We are not interested in the suspension. We are interested in how come, but for the public outcry, they were going to spring this surprise on the Ghanaian public,” Afenyo-Markin added.
The controversy began after MTN notified customers that effective June 1, 2026, transfers from MoMo wallets to bank accounts would attract a 0.75% fee per transaction, capped at GH¢5.
Hours later, the Bank of Ghana directed Mobile Money Fintech Limited to suspend the implementation of the charges pending further consultations.
