Electronic Levy Will Fetch Ghana 8 Billion Ghana Cedis Annually- Kyei Mensah Bonsu
The Hon Minister of Parliamentary Affairs who is also the Majority Leader in parliament , Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has postulated that the embattled E-Levy when approved can rake in between 8 to 9 billion Ghana Cedis a year.
Speaking to the Press in Accra at Meet The Press Encounter ,he touted the myriad of positive benefits the tax will bring to the Ghanaian economy if allowed to operate.
Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu argued that Ghana needs that big amount of money to fix the infrastructure deficits in terms of roads, markets, health facilities, schools, housing, etc. “Ghana needs about 79,000 kilometers of road infrastructure.
When Kufuor assumed duty , we had only 39,000 kilometers stretch of roads, he increased it to 69,000. Atta Mills and John Mahama increased it to 73,000. Nana Addo in four years has increased it to 79,000 kilometers and still increasing it. And seriously our roads are very bad and so we must construct them.
“He said the road toll was giving Ghana only 78 million Ghana cedis annually that could not fix the roads maintenance but the E-Levy can do ten times that of the road toll. “When Atta Mills came to power, he increased road toll levy to about 500 % and people were complaining but when they saw some road maintenances going on in some parts of the country, they appreciated it and accepted the tax increase.
We in majority have proposed the levy, our brothers say no, later after discussion ,they agreed to 1 % ,no problem, but later they backtracked and said no so which is which ? . They know that is the only way to go but just to whip up the citizens sentiments to gain political capital”.
The minister said those people who are saying it’s a double taxation, if they buy goods on the market ,don’t they pay tax on them ,by way of indirect tax and VAT? Again those using cars don’t they pay tax on fuel they buy into their cars ?
“You the same people are saying that the government is borrowing too much and when we have all agreed to look within to introduce new tax regimes, you say no, so what do we do then “?. Now our debt to GDP has ballooned as a result of revenue shortfalls and we need internal revenue mobilisation to fill the gap and yet there’s stiff opposition ; but we cannot run our country on borrowing alone”.
The minister said the government took this decision after wide extensive consultations and discussions with civil society organizations and some recognized think tanks before introducing that tax. He agreed that a lot more dialogue and discussion will have to be undertaken to arrive at general agreement to implement the this tax. According to the minister the minority is engaging the various Ministries and agencies to defend and justify their budget proposals in parliament as he speaks, and at the same time saying the Government budget is unapproved.
He called on the minority to put the progress of the nation at heart and support the course of national development and work in tandem and consensus as the only way to push our country forward. He announced that the finance minister has made a lot of amendments to the budget to reflect the changes they requested for so, he sees no reason why the minority must derail the house business.
Source:Nana Poku/Johnawuniktv@gmail.com
