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Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has urged Ghanaians to support the government's e-levy policy.

The controversial e-levy has become a bone of contention between the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the Minority in Parliament has kicked against it which was envisaged to commence this month.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta announced the e-levy during the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy before Parliament last year but the policy has suffered rejection by the Minority and a section of Ghanaians.

The opposition claims the e-levy will compound the plight of Ghanaians.

However, the government is bent on implementing the e-levy which has now been reduced from 1.75% to 1.5%.

Currently, the government is engaging the public in Townhall meetings to educate them on the electronic transaction tax.

There are also calls for government to return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance in the stead of charging Ghanaians an e-levy.

Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Sammi Awuku registered his disagreement with those calling for IMF intervention.

He reminded Ghanaians of the attendant problems associated with the IMF loans such as the cancellation or suspension of teacher and nurses trainees' allowances among other conditionalities that have always characterized the IMF loan agreements.

He noted that the IMF isn't the best alternative but encouraged Ghanaians to make the sacrifice of paying the e-levy aimed to develop the country.

" . . a time comes when I believe sacrifices too must be borne in the supreme interest of our country," he stated.

He presented the reality of Ghana's economy as he urged the citizenry to embrace this new initiative, saying, ''we've come to a situation where we are between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you go to an IMF programme, it will still be added to your debt stock. Make no mistake! However, my thinking is that we need to encourage government that, with this money, because we want to see what the proceeds will be used for; we should set aside a different fund which will not be the consolidated fund''.

''I don't think government's position is that, without e-levy, Ghana will collapse. What government is seeking to do is to help and raise revenue [from] within,'' he added.

Sammi Awuku also charged the Finance Minister to be accountable to the citizens, letting them know what the e-levy is being used for in order to inspire public confidence.

''I believe that will also give some kind of confidence," he stressed.