• Login
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
  • Home
  • News
    • General
    • Political
  • Economy
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Banking & Finance
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Markets
    • Maritime
    • Real Estate
    • Tourism
    • Transport
  • Technology
    • Telecom
    • Cyber-security
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Tech-guide
    • Social Media
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Reports
    • Banking/Finance
    • Insurance
    • Budgets
    • GDP
    • Inflation
    • Central Bank
    • Sec/Gse
  • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

Only One Cedi Levy: A Case Study In Political Spin

2 months ago
in Features, highlights, Home, home-news, latest News, Opinions
2 min read
0 0
0
71
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Since the day our Majority Leader, Ayariga, coined the phrase ‘only one cedi,’ to urge Ghana to accept a new petroleum levy, I have been combing my ancient wallets for one-cedi notes, popularly called ‘Vodaphone.’

Cockroaches have had a field day in my pockets, chewing and helping Bank of Ghana to phase out the red note. One cedi.

This is a bank note that is snubbed by beggars and tro-tro mates.

At church, the fragile red note is sometimes segregated in collection bowls for the attention of evil eyes.

You know what it means, when your pastor ahead of ‘collection time,’ advises against giving unto God only a ‘vodaphone note.’

Overnight, nicknames for the newest levy multiplied: Energy Levy, Fuel Levy, Dumsor Levy.

But all this was simplified when Eii Ato, the Finance Minister called it the One Cedi Levy, which was approved ‘under a certificate of urgency’ a parliamentary lingo that comes with the local footnote, ‘pass this bill now, or we die;’ Anye a morowu in Cape Coast parlance.

RelatedPosts

UEFA Champions League: Five Exciting Fixtures to Keep an Eye on

BoG 2nd Deputy Governor Urges Firms to Move Beyond Tokenism in Promoting Women to Leadership Roles

Market Activity Slows as Prime Index Marginally Edges Higher to 7,340.08 Points

The Minority smelling a rat walked out that day, having counted their fingers to discover that Ato’s ‘Only one cedi’ slogan really meant ‘Almost five cedis.’

Horrible details about the merciful levy came tumbling, and compelled one respectable critic to call the entire transaction the ‘fastest pickpocketing ever…’ Next came one opposition MP, who dispensing parliamentary courtesies, dismissed it as ‘wicked’ and ‘plain thievery.’

‘If the E-Levy was daylight robbery, Dumsor Levy was an armed invasion,’ Oppong Nkrumah bared his knuckles.

Ghana had so soon forgotten that Finance ministers are also budget sweeteners, and from time immemorial have never offended the voter with bad news.

In keeping with campaign promises of ‘no new taxes’, they convey no bad news, but dress tough budgets in deodorant and perfumed rice.

Thus petrol prices are never increased, they are slightly ‘adjusted’ in keeping with inflation; and any increase in cassava prices cannot be traced to Government, but the Russian-Ukraine war, or of late Israel-Iran missiles.

Right from the days of Osagyefo’s Kwasi Amoako Atta through Nana Addo’s Ofori Atta, then Mahama’s Eii Ato Forson, no budget has been bad news; yet every budget has been bad news.

It was once said of beloved Baah Wiredu, Kufuor’s finance minister: “Honorable is so smooth and sweet-tongued that after he has explained the budget, you feel like saying: Honorable if that is the case then please increase our taxes.”

Come 1991 a Kwesi Botchwey budget for JJ’s PNDC.

The world was enduring a major Gulf crisis featuring oil producing Iraq against allied Western forces.

Pump prices here went up by 70 percent within three months of a 50% hike.

While all fingers were pointed at the PNDC secretary for Fuel and Power, Ato Ahwoi; Kwesi B brought some relief, announcing a steep price increase for ‘gasoline:’ an unusual word occasionally applied to diesel.

Petrol users who were in the majority celebrated; Kwesi B had spared them.

The increase also refered to one ‘liter;’ no mention of the popular ‘gallon.’

If the price of a liter of gasoline had gone up, a gallon of petrol had probably been spared.

Days later it was realized Kwesi B had dribbled the entire population—suuriya–and travelled.

Here now comes Eii Ato simulating Kwesi: both he and Kwesi B coming from the same Central Region. Eii Mfantsefo!

But let me end with the Busia regime 1969 to 72, where the glib-tongued JH Mensah was Minister for Finance.

After a tough budget had been launched by the Progress Party, JH added to the debate a sweetener that softened resistance. Come with me to the parliamentary proceedings of July 1971.

The words of JH Mensah pushing an austerity budget:

‘Etuo bene a egyina barima bo. This means our grandfathers used to go to war with guns, and after hours of fighting, the guns got hot. It is the coward who when the gun is hot drops it.

brave keeps the heated gun.

The gun is hot and the government of the Progress Party is asking the whole nation to be steadfast and go through the temporary difficulty; and I am sure during the Progress Party program of development, we will come out a wealthier and progressive nation.’

The outcome is history; but decades later, here comes this One Cedi Levy, which has been mercifully withdrawn by JDM for cosmetic surgery.

We pray that should it return later in life, the bold truth will be told that, ‘Here is a Levy that can give you nightmares; but the good Lord will make His face to shine upon you.’

All who agree with the motion say Aaaaaye…

The No’s have it!

 

kyankah@ashesi.edu.gh

Tags: One Cedi LevyOnly One Cedi Levy: A Case Study In Political Spin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

No Result
View All Result

Highlights

US Open: Sinner Advances as Gauff and Swiatek Struggle

Unemployment Rate Falls to 13.1% but Youth Joblessness Remains Acute, Says GSS

Chamber of Mines Calls for Special Purpose Vehicle to Fund Western Corridor Railway Development

African Debt and Climate Change: How the ICJ’s Vanuatu Ruling Could be Used for Broader Justice

European Leagues Defend Plans to Stage Matches Abroad Amid EU Criticism

Bank of Ghana Sets Gold Coin Price at GHS 39,273 Per Ounce

Trending

Features

UEFA Champions League: Five Exciting Fixtures to Keep an Eye on

August 29, 2025

UEFA Champions League: Five Exciting Fixtures to Keep an Eye on The stage is set for the...

BoG 2nd Deputy Governor Urges Firms to Move Beyond Tokenism in Promoting Women to Leadership Roles

August 29, 2025

Market Activity Slows as Prime Index Marginally Edges Higher to 7,340.08 Points

August 29, 2025

US Open: Sinner Advances as Gauff and Swiatek Struggle

August 29, 2025

Unemployment Rate Falls to 13.1% but Youth Joblessness Remains Acute, Says GSS

August 29, 2025

Who we are?

NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World

NorvanReports is a unique data, business, and financial portal aimed at providing accurate, impartial reporting of business news on Ghana, Africa, and around the world from a truly independent reporting and analysis point of view.

© 2020 Norvanreports – credible news platform.
L: Hse #4 3rd Okle Link, Baatsonaa – Accra-Ghana T:+233-(0)26 451 1013 E: news@norvanreports.com info@norvanreports.com
All rights reserved we display professionalism at all stages of publications

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate
    • Maritime
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Banking & Finance
    • Trade
    • Markets
  • Economy
  • Reports
  • Technology
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Cyber-security
    • Social Media
    • Tech-guide
    • Telecom
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
NORVANREPORTS.COM | Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.