Ghana e-levy: repealed in April 2025, and what replaced the confusion

Ghana's e-levy - the 1% tax on electronic transfers - was repealed by Parliament on 26 March 2025, effective 2 April 2025, and it remains repealed. No government tax applies to MoMo transfers today. Here is why some people still think otherwise.

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✓ Verified June 2026.Figures from live operator tariffs; operators may revise their schedules.

What the e-levy was

Introduced in 2022 (initially 1.5%, later 1%), the e-levy was a government tax charged on most electronic transfers, including mobile money. It shaped behaviour deeply: Ghanaians became acutely sensitive to any fee on MoMo.

The repeal (April 2025)

Parliament approved the repeal of the e-levy on 26 March 2025, and it took effect on 2 April 2025. Since then, no government tax applies to mobile money transfers. The fees you pay today are purely operator fees (send, cash-out).

The lingering confusion

Two things keep the confusion alive. First, outdated online fee tables still show an e-levy column. Second, MTN's May 2026 announcement of a 0.75% fee was wrongly called 'the e-levy returning' - when it was an operator fee on one transfer type, since suspended. If you see a government tax cited on a MoMo receipt, it is an error.

The 0.75% fee tracker (operator ≠ tax) →

The full timeline

2022 - The e-levy is introduced at 1.5% on electronic transfers, with an exemption on the first GH₵100 transferred per day. Deeply unpopular from the start.
2023 - The rate is cut from 1.5% to 1% to ease the backlash, but the tax stays in place.
26 March 2025 - Parliament votes to repeal the e-levy.
2 April 2025 - The repeal takes effect. From this date, no government tax applies to mobile money transfers.
May 2026 - A 0.75% OPERATOR fee announced by MTN is mistaken for 'the e-levy returning', then suspended by the Bank of Ghana. The state tax itself stays repealed.

What changed in your pocket

Take a GH₵1,000 transfer. BEFORE (under the 1% e-levy): you paid about GH₵10 in government tax, ON TOP of the operator's send fee. AFTER (since April 2025): the GH₵10 tax is gone - you pay only the operator's send fee.

On larger amounts the saving is proportionally bigger: 1% of GH₵5,000 was GH₵50 of tax, now zero. That is the concrete effect of the repeal on household budgets.

Why the 'e-levy is back' rumour recurs

The rumour resurfaces every time a new fee is announced, because three years of e-levy conditioned Ghanaians to distrust any charge on MoMo. The May 2026 episode is the perfect example: an operator fee on one transfer type, wrongly called a government tax. The simple rule: a tax comes from the government and applies broadly; a fee comes from the operator and is specific to one service.

All MoMo charges, plainly →

Frequently asked questions

Is the e-levy still in force in Ghana?

No. It was repealed on 2 April 2025 and has not been reintroduced. No e-levy applies to your MoMo transfers today.

Is the e-levy back with the 0.75% fee?

No, they are two different things. The e-levy was a government tax (repealed). The 0.75% was MTN's operator fee on wallet-to-bank transfers - itself suspended by the Bank of Ghana. See the fee tracker.

Why do I still see 'e-levy' on some sites?

Many online guides never updated their tables and still show a 1% or 1.5% e-levy column. That is outdated. Be wary of any fee table that still includes the e-levy.

Can an agent charge me the e-levy?

No. There is no e-levy to collect. An agent citing 'the e-levy' to justify a surcharge is mistaken or overcharging - see our agent charges page.

What was the e-levy rate before it was repealed?

It was introduced in 2022 at 1.5%, with an exemption on the first GH₵100 transferred per day, then cut to 1% in 2023. It was repealed in full on 2 April 2025. None of those rates apply today.

How much did the e-levy cost me on GH₵1,000?

At 1%, a GH₵1,000 transfer carried about GH₵10 of e-levy, on top of the operator fee. Today, that same transfer carries no government tax - you only pay the operator's send fee.