The NDC government has been described as wicked and insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.
The TaxPayers Alliance is appalled that the government has resorted to “lazy and cheap means to close expenditure gap”.
In a statement issued by the group and copied to rawgist.com, recounted all the factors that had added up to raise the cost of living in Ghana.
“The future looks gloomy and there seems to be no intervention in sight likely to reduce the economic hardship currently pounding the people. TPAG will stand for the voiceless taxpayer to secure decent tax regime that inures to their economic and social progress.”
Please read the full statement here:
MAHAMA LED NDC GOVERNMENT POUNDING GHANAIAN WITH COUNTLESS TAXES-TAXPAYERS’ ALLIANCE GHANA.
The posture of the NDC government in Ghana now is of nerve-racking concern and depicts a leadership whose intention is to short-change the people to secure its interest at all cost. If for nothing at all, leadership is entreated by prudence and the aged axiom that the object of government is not the glory of rulers and their cronies alone, but the happiness of the common man. Ironically, the NDC government led by president Mahama does not have any semblance to this axiom and there seem to be no attempt to at one given the unfolding suffering being unleashed on the poor Ghanaian whose taxes provide the revenue for government to run.
TaxPayers Alliance Ghana (TPAG) is appalled by the fact that though government is well informed of the deteriorating economic and social conditions of Ghanaians, more punitive policies that will exacerbate the already unbearable situation are being pushed down the throat of the people. It is a plain fact that petroleum price hikes ultimately drives prices of all goods and services high in Ghana which reduces real income and further increases economic stress on the people. The government decked with corruption now resorts to a lazy and cheap means to close expenditure gap. In 2014, a 17.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) was slapped on petroleum products. The insensitive government ignored all appeals and went ahead with the implementation at a time crude oil prices were receding gradually on the international market.
In 2015, crude oil price cumulatively reduced by a colossal 30% while Ghanaians paid over GHC 12.00 for the final product. For less than a month into 2016, crude oil price has reduced by 16% with Brent crude selling at $ 31.41 while USA oil features go for less than $ 30.00. Conversely, the NDC government has astronomically increased petroleum prices in the country by 27% at the same time. How! It will sound absurd to agree with any intentions by the government to increase petroleum products at a time that the price of the product on the international market is at its lowest quotation in 13 years. Ghanaians now pay a little over $ 4.00 (GHC 16.00) for a gallon of petrol (4 litres) which same product and quantity sells at $ 1.75 in USA where government and its paid communicators compare Ghana with in many cases. If the whole barrel of crude oil sells at $ 31.41 and Ghanaians pay $ 4.00 per gallon (4 litres), TPAG gauges that to be wickedness and insensitivity on the part of the NDC government and fatal failure of president Mahama’s leadership.
TPAG is aware that the tax component of the petroleum price build up today constitutes a whopping 70% with the recent introduction of the petroleum levy. The import of this is that, for every litre of petroleum product bought, 70% is paid in taxes some of which are shrouded in complex ambiguity. The counter pricing conundrum of a falling price of crude oil on the international market against a corresponding rise in the final product on Ghanaian market is perhaps special to the country and should be properly investigated to uncover what could possibly be a grand scheme to make bad money from poor taxpayers. At a time that Ghanaians should be enjoying some reprieve from a reduced petroleum prices, we are punished for what corruption and mismanagement has dealt this country.
We cannot soon forget that starting from 14th December 2015, water and electricity tariffs were increased by as high as 67.2% and 59.2% respectively.
For 2016 to herald with an increment in petroleum prices at 27% is just too much of an uncaring government that is failing woefully. TPAG is incensed by the huge variance of what Parliament approved and what is being implemented. It is instructive to note that the people’s representatives (Members of Parliament) approved an increment of between 2.9% to 5%. Therefore, the 27% being charged is illegal and many of the MPs have expressed shock at the twist of the agreement. You can expect and be content with such in Ghana where the law making body as Parliament’s decision can changed with impunity.
TPAG urges government to reconsider the unjustified austerity being imposed on Ghanaians in the form of taxes. The future looks gloomy and there seems to be no intervention in sight likely to reduce the economic hardship currently pounding the people. TPAG will stand for the voiceless taxpayer to secure decent tax regime that inures to their economic and social progress.
We shall not reston our laurels until President John Dramani Mahama and his incompetent,inept,insensitive and corrupt appointees sees reason in reducing the untold hardships they have visited on the Ghanaian taxpayer.
Frank Asiedu Bekoe Isaac Sarpong
Executive Director Director of Research & Programs
Wassup:0204074751 Mobile:0265398959
