Policy Analyst, Razak Kojo Opoku, has slammed former President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for imposing over 116% levies on Ghanaians when they were in power but are vehemently against the 1.75 E-levy being proposed by the NPP government.
In a statement, Razak Opoku accused the former of hypocrisy and double standards
Below is the full statement:
The hypocrisy of former President John Mahama and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is legendary. Mr. Mahama’s government as a result of efforts to revive the economy due to the persistent local issue of ‘Dumsor’ forced Ghanaians to pay over 116% Levies or taxes including:
1. 17.5% real estate levy
2. 17.5% hospital imported medicines Levy
3. 17.5% financial services Levy
4. 1% special import levy
5. 17.5% Airline tickets Levy
6. 5% National Electrification Scheme Levy
7. 5% Public Lighting Levy
8. 17.5% Special Petroleum Levy
9. 17.5% Traders Levy
10. Kayayei Levy
These Levies were paid by Ghanaians concurrently under John Mahama’s Government.
After the collection of all these levies, former President Mahama still went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an economic bailout just to address the problem of ‘Dumsor’. And sadly, in spite of the IMF and all the aforementioned levies collected by Mr. Mahama, he still could not solve the problem of Dumsor and left the economy of Ghana in a messy situation.
The sum total of the aforementioned levies imposed by Mahama John would be around over 116%.
However, Mr. Mahama and the NDC, who imposed 116% Levies on Ghanaians as a result of ‘Dumsor’ are vehemently kicking against 1.5% E-Levy that Akufo-Addo’s government is pleading with Ghanaians to pay so that collectively as a country we would be able to generate enough revenue domestically to support the continuous efforts of the government to fully complete the revival of the economy post-global COVID-19 without recourse to the IMF or World Bank for Loans which will eventually lead to an increase in the country’s public debt.
