Minority Leader calls out VP Bawumia’s tax policy; questions intentions, alleges copying
Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson has expressed skepticism regarding Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s intentions, suggesting that Bawumia possesses the authority to introduce a bill to the legislature aimed at nullifying the newly implemented taxes if he genuinely desires to do so.
Forson’s remarks come in response to Dr. Bawumia’s recent policy announcement, in which he outlined his intentions to eliminate several persistent taxes upon assuming office.
Addressing members of the parliamentary press corps at the parliament house in Accra, Dr.Forson questioned the viability of the vice president’s policies and plans, emphasizing that Dr.Bawumia has been intricately involved in supervising the economic policies implemented by President Akufo-Addo since 2017.
“All of these economic policies that President Akufo-Addo has implemented since 2017 were supervised by the vice president and it should be noted.
His position has further been strengthened and he is now the leader of the governing NPP, flagbearer, so if he means well he has whatever it takes to bring a bill to parliament to get these taxes removed now, what we are asking him to do is simple, the NDC currently opposes all these taxes that he has talked about, we have opposed it here in parliament, in public, our flagbearer, John Mahama has made public pronouncement that when given the power, he would remove it.”
He underscored that Bawumia’s elevated position within the governing NPP, as both the flagbearer and leader, affords him the authority to initiate legislative action to repeal the taxes.
Furthermore, Dr.Forson accused Bawumia of merely emulating some of the plans proposed by former President John Mahama, the presidential candidate for the opposition NDC. He asserted that the effectiveness of the current taxes is primarily due to the NDC not being in power. Forson emphasized that as the chairman of the economic management team, the vice president, second in command in the Akufo-Addo administration, and leader of the NPP, Bawumia possesses the necessary means to introduce a bill to parliament for the removal of the taxes if he genuinely intends to do so.
In addition, Dr.Forson leveled accusations against the ruling NPP administration, branding them as wasteful and reckless in their management of the country. He asserted that the current administration lacks substantive solutions and must be ousted in the upcoming general elections.
It’s worth noting that Parliament approved the implementation of new taxes before its recess last year, aimed at generating an additional 3.96 billion cedis ($340 million) in revenue to meet the requirements for an International Monetary Fund bailout.
The approved tax bills include amendments to the Value Added Tax, Excise Duty, Stamp Duty, Emissions Levy, and Exemptions, all aimed at bolstering government revenue and the 2023 Appropriation Bill.
Ghanaians have been burdened by the country’s debt issues, prompting the restructuring of local debt and other liabilities to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio from an estimated 105% in 2022 to 55% by 2028.
