The Member of Parliament for Ejura Sekyedumase in the Ashanti Region, Mr Bawa Braimah Mohammed says the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia lied to Ghanaians when he promised that the NPP-Government will move the country from taxation to industrialisation.
He observed that during their (NPP) campaign, the Vice President said Ghanaians were paying so much taxes and therefore they would scrap many if they won power.
Unfortunately, he said that promise was a lie since the NPP-Government has introduced about 18 taxes since it assumed office.
Mr Bawa Braimah Mohammed was reacting to the 2022 budget which was read by the Finannce Minster, Mr Ken Ofori- Attah on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021 in Parliament.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, reading the 2022 budget in Parliament on Wednesday 17th November 2021, said government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions.
According to him, Electronic transactions covering mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments and inward remittances will be charged at an applicable rate of 1.75%, which shall be borne by the sender except inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient.
He also said the Government has suspended 50% benchmark values on selected general goods and the 30% on vehicles to make the measure more efficient and targeted.
Read Also: GUTA unhappy with suspension of 50% benchmark value
Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie, Mr Bawa Braimah Mohammed said, “Ghanaians are suffering, we have paid more taxes, this government introduced about 18 taxes when it came, when they were coming, they said they were not coming to burden Ghanaians with taxes. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said they will scrap all the taxes and move us from taxation to production. Now the Finance Minster says they have suspended benchmark values, and if the budget is approved, the prices of general goods will increase, this is going to burden Ghanaians.”
On E-levy, the MP said it was a regressive tax, because most people use Momo transactions and so if people have to pay 1.75% on every money sent, people may close their momo account.
He said people living abroad will also stop sending their families money because of the levy on electronic transactions.
The MP said the taxes would rather bring hardship on the people instead of saving their situation.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
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