Public relations Officer (PRO) for the True Drivers’ Union, Yaw Barimah says the union directed all the Drivers to play ‘Who the cap fits’ reggae song while the Finance Minister was reading the budget.
This was to deter the drivers from listening to the budget due to failed promises to drivers.
While presenting the 2024 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government of Ghana for the 2024 Financial Year, on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, made it known that the government has decided to waive off taxes on import duties on electric vehicles and others.
“The following reliefs have been prioritised for implementation. To extend the zero rate of vat on locally manufactured African prints for two more years, to waive import duties on the import of electric vehicles for public transportation for a period of 8 years, to waive import duties on semi knockdown and completely knockdown vehicles imported, registered EV assembly companies in Ghana for a period of 8 years, to extend zero rate of vat on locally assembled vehicles for two more years,” he said.
Read Also: 2024 Budget: Govt waives off tax on locally produced sanitary pads
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie, Yaw Barimah said it was in the morning that he listened to Atinka TV‘s morning show to understand the budget.
“If we say we listened then we are lying. We even directed all the drivers to play ‘Who the cap fits, let them wear it’ in their vehicles while the budget was being read. The phrase, ‘Your worst enemy could be your best friend and your best friend your worst enemy,’ is exactly what the NPP-Government has done to drivers,’ ‘he said.
Explaining further, Yaw Barimah recalled that last year, they complained about a number of challenges and even embarked on a sit-down strike.
According to him, even when they spoke to their leaders to speak for them, their leader lied about them and did not even call them to address their issues.
“With the budget he read, I have come to understand that their statement, ‘we have the men’, they do not even have a baby,” he said.
He advised all drivers to start paying the tax to avoid any confrontation with the police.
Also, speaking on the waived off taxes on import duties on electric vehicles and others, he said there was no truth in that, adding that they do not believe what the Finance Minister said, noting that this particular Government has failed to deliver its promises even on tax waivers.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
