Fun Fact Friday: The birthday cake that angered Ghanaians
In February 2022 a birthday cake became the center of national debate. The New Patriotic Party Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu marked his 65th birthday with what he called a simple family gathering in Kumasi but the event took a dramatic turn when a green cake with the bold words E-LEVY appeared at the party.
The E-levy and why Ghanaians were angry
Photos and videos of the cake spread fast on social media. Ghanaians described the cake as insensitive, this happened at a time when people were upset about the Electronic Transfer Levy introduced under President Akufo Addo’s administration (NPP).
The E-levy charged 1% on electronic transfers through banks and mobile money (MOMO) providers like MTN MoMo Vodafone Cash AirtelTigo Money.
The levy placed a fee on mobile money and bank transfers, aimed to raise GH¢2.24 billion in 2022 but only generated about GH¢246.9 million which was just 11 percent of the target. This shortfall showed how many people rejected the levy by changing their financial habits.
The birthday cake controversy
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained on Angel FM that he did not order the cake. He said a businessman sent it as a gift to thank him for his effort to get the E-levy passed. He added that his official cake from his wife had blue and white and that green is not even his favourite colour. He said if he had been asked, he would not have agreed to the design.
Social media users felt the cake mocked their struggles, Josephine a student from Kumasi Technical University said she once could not buy an item online because the E-levy charge meant she did not have enough money.
Margaret Agyei another mobile money user said she stopped using MoMo for large sums and now prefers to send money through cars or parcel offices to avoid the fee.
The political fallout and end of the levy
The cake also sparked political accusations, some said the Minority group sent the cake to make Ghanaians angry before the Yentua demonstration which protested the levy, others including Member of National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sam George asked the Majority Leader to name the person who gave him the cake.
After strong public opposition and as both major political parties, New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress promised to scrap it ahead of the 2024 elections, the tax was eventually removed by President John Mahama’s (NDC) administration when he came to power.
The E-levy cake remains a symbol of how a sensitive topic made fun of intentional or unintentional can spark national anger and remind leaders of the need to listen to the people.
by Princess Debrah Avenyoh
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