The Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker, has intimated that the former President, John Dramani Mahama, has no moral right to tell Ghanaians he will repeal E-Levy.
According to Mireku Duker, John Mahama, during his era as President of Ghana, ruled and introduced some harsh taxes that burdened the people and also affected his Presidency. He stated that during Mahama’s tenure, the real estate levy was introduced where real estates were taxed 17.5 percent.
The Deputy lands Minister indicated that the Former President also introduced the hospital imported medicine levy. “During those times no one demonstrated because we were all looking at making the nation better.”
“John Mahama imposed a Real Estate Levy, Air ticket Levy, Hospital Imported Medicine Levy and other levies on Ghanaians. Such a person now has the right to tell Ghanaians he will cancel E-Levy? It’s the freedom that we have in this country that allowed the former President to have the moral right to stand in public and say when he comes he will repeal the E-levy.”
Mireku Duker
Mr. Duker averred that some of the statements by the former President are annoying because he has already showed Ghanaians what he’s capable of during his presidency after he was severally cautioned in taking certain steps when it came to the economy.
“Because of that, in the history of this country you can lose election of more than 1 million. If people really question certain people, there are some who wouldn’t have the moral rights to stand and be making such pronouncements.”
Mireku Duker
Truth must be told
Honorable Duker indicated that if the truth is not told with regards to governance, the respect attributed to governance will be lost. He urged all to speak the truth to aid in better governance.
Mireku Duker further noted that E-Levy isn’t new under the Akufo-Addo administration but has existed since the regime of late former President Jerry John Rawlings through to Mahama’s regime. He explained that the telecommunication networks have since been collecting E-Levy but what the Akufo-Addo government has done is to only increase the charges.
“They (NDC) shouldn’t pretend as if it’s a devil sent from heaven. It’s a levy that’s been in the existence all this while just that it has been increased. It’s something we have been collecting during Rawlings’ time. It’s just the name that has been changed.”
Mireku Duker
The Minister stated that John Mahama and the NDC will never cancel the E-Levy, therefore imploring Ghanaians not to believe them. “You, who haven’t cancelled tax before and now you are saying, when elected, you will cancel tax. It’s obviously false.”
Mr. Duker’s comments followed John Mahama’s comments stating that the NDC would abolish the e-levy when voted into power in 2024.
Former President, John Mahama delivering an address said: “We in the NDC do not oppose taxation as a principle. We will not be pretentious and couch fanciful slogans to condemn the principle of taxation like the NPP did in the past. We are, however, implacably opposed to distortionary and burdensome taxes like the e-levy that only force Ghanaians to endure more suffering. A new National Democratic Congress Government, God willing and with the votes of the sovereign people of Ghana in 2025, will repeal the E-Levy Act.”
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