Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed the need for President Akufo-Addo to have announced COVID-19 levy during his announcement of the lifting of COVID restrictions.
According to him, Ghanaians also expected the “awful” E-Levy to be abolished since the President’s government has opted for an IMF bailout. He revealed that these taxes impose a huge burden on Ghanaians, especially in the face of taxes being introduced by government.
“Ghanaians expected President Akufo-Addo to have announced the scrapping of the unjustifiable COVID-19 levy as he lifts all covid restrictions. President Akufo-Addo must be sincere and sensitive to the plight of suffering Ghanaians.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
In light of this, he underscored the need for all parliamentarians to come together in the national interest, and take advantage of the mid-year budget review to expunge these two obsolete taxes. He explained that the decisions taken by MPs could invariably bring relief to Ghanaians.
“As President Akufo-Addo continues to let Ghanaians down, Parliament cannot afford to fail. May we be the people’s saving grace.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Earlier, President Akufo-Addo reassured Ghanaians that his administration did not use the COVID-19 pandemic as an avenue to engage in corrupt activities.
According to the President, there were genuine expenditures made and costs incurred in the quest to fight the unplanned pandemic. He contended that most of the procedures undertaken by government to combat the pandemic were publicly funded, hence the reason for the high expenditure made by the government.
“The testing for the millions who went to public laboratories, quarantine of arrivals from our outside the country, hospital admissions, treatments, and treatment for all patients were publicly funded and cost vast sums of money.
“Let me make it clear that COVID expenditures, essentially unplanned, have been subjected to audit by the Auditor General and are going through parliamentary processes. We all deserve to be reassured that the crisis was not used as a covenant for corrupt practices.”
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo justifies COVID-19 levy
The President revealed that the vaccination program was very expensive. He explained that even though government received some donated vaccines, it purchased a lot with its own resources and the multiple countrywide vaccination campaigns cost a lot of money.
Also, he noted that the fumigation, cleansing, and disinfection of markets, schools, offices, and other public spaces also cost a lot of money.
Furthermore, he indicated that “free water was provided, and the cost of electricity subsidized. 54,000 additional health workers were hired, and all health workers obtained a tax rebate”.
The President equally highlighted that public education on the virus, as well as the logistics for keeping the schools open during the pandemic, were also huge and costly. However, he stated that despite the expense incurred, he was pleased that it did not interfere with education because classes could still be held and “no Ghanaian child was left behind”.
Subsequently, he entreated Ghanaians to bear with the Covid-19 health recovery levy, explaining that the COVID trust fund performed an invaluable service.
President Akufo-Addo further noted that COVID expenditures, essentially unplanned, have been subject, at his instigation, to audit by the Auditor-General, and are going through parliamentary processes.
This decision by government to maintain the COVID-19 levy may come as a disappointment to both consumers and the business community who have been pushing for the removal of the tax, which they say is contributing to the rising cost of products and services.
For instance, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has revealed that the government must do all it can to cushion the business community, especially abolishing the nuisance taxes that make the cost of doing business in Ghana expensive.
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