Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has slammed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and all other persons in support of the e-levy who urge Ghanaians to pay the e-levy because it is taxes that foreign countries use to develop their economies.
With the e-levy strongly opposed by the Minority and many Ghanaians, the argument has been that the electronic tax will serve as an avenue for development for the country.
Encouraging the citizens to embrace this initiative, the proponents have been drawing comparisons between Ghana and the economies of foreign nations, stressing the difference between the two in terms of development, is that the citizens abroad willingly pay taxes.
Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Charles Owusu wants these comparisons to stop because, to him, it's disproportionate for any person to compare Ghana with overseas.
He noted that the problem that most Ghanaians have with the e-levy, aside calling for the 1.75 percent to be reduced, is how it (e-levy) will be administered.
He explained that, in abroad, the taxes are used for its intended purposes unlike Ghana, therefore arguing that ''we don't see what our tax is used to do in this country''.
''Those abroad, when they pay tax, see the evidence that roads are being tarred, water runs through the tape 24/7; the system is working...I say if they set up tolls on my road, I will pay but you can't put tolls on a rough road. And so if you construct alphated road for me and set up toll on it and tell me to pay, why won't I pay?
''Because I can attest to it, but here we have a situation in a country where pregnant women lies on a mat. Tell me where in overseas do you see a pregnant woman lying on a mat in the hospital? Where in abroad do you find a Police officer living in a messy room?'' he questioned.
He further lambasted the State authorities saying ''it is only in Ghana that you will have a prepaid meter and load credit on it but can't use it because there is light off'' and wondered if this happens abroad too.
''I mean there's nothing like that in a foreign country, so we should stop that comparison!...In Ghana here, as soon as it rains, your telephone doesn't work. In Ghana, when it rains, your lights go out because it is afraid of rainfall. That is not happening there (abroad)...So, we shouldn't even engage in that kind of intellectual discourse at all," he stated.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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It is a matter of what comes first taxes before infrastructure or infrastructure before taxes. I believe it is taxes. However the general opinion that taxes are misapplied in Ghana is what causes people to reject it’s introduction. We have a speaker of parliament who lives in Dubai and works in Ghana and a President who flies luxury jets. Can you blame the people for rejecting taxes.
Josh, I agree with your submission. When those taxes are collected you see the government/state/municipality put it to good use. In our case, monies would be paid for somebody to fly out to Dubai almost every week to undergo medical check up because he or she is a “big person” when the rest of us can’t even access our local hospitals when the rest of us are sick. Yet, it is the rest of us who shoulder the bulk of the tax burden. Is this fair? It really hurts! Not until such injustices stop, people will oppose such issues even when it is in the interest of the country. Just a thought.
Rather @KN, Whether the country has sold gold or diamond does not mean don't pay taxes. Whatever it is what is the GDP of Ghana? (its small) - whether gold or not.
Whether the country has sold gold or diamond does not mean don't pay taxes. Whatever it is what is the GDP of Ghana? (its small) - whether gold or not.
In Ontario, Canada. There's a provincial tax called (Hamonous) and it's 13% that is added to everything you buy from the shop. Suppose you see a pair of shoes that is priced at $100, you'd pay additional 13% on it so you'd end up paying for $113 at the cashier. Ghanaians complain too much but expect so much... Even if you go to the bank and exchange money from Canadian dollars to the US dollars, you'd be taxed 7% SO 1.75% IS A DROP IN THE OCEAN AND TELL GHANAIANS NOT TO THING OF COMING TO NORTH AMERICA BECAUSE TAXES IS WHAT MAKE THIS COUNTRY WORKED USA AND CANADA DO NOT BORROW TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR CITIZENS BUT RATHER THE CITIZENS PAY FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT NO FREE LUNCH ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD LAZY GHANAIANS THE FREE DAYS ARE OVER LOOSERS.
@Qwesi You are missing the point. Accountability is very important. The state have collected all sort for money however they are never used for the intended purpose. Aside siphoning the money, we have no accountability in the system. Do you ever sit down to think about the gold, diamonds, oil etc we have sold? Where have the money gone? I for one wouldn't mind paying 0.5% to 1% until I see tangible implementation of what the money is intended for. Ghana is not for NPP and NDC, we also exist.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION FOREIGN COUNTRIES PAID TAXES BEFORE THEIR LIGHTS WERE FIXED AND THEY ARE STILL PAYING TAXES AND HIGHER BILLS AFTER IT HAS BEEN FIXED JUST TO IMPROVE ON IT AND ITS SUSTAINABILITY. PAYING TAXES EVERY WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS NEVER BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH THE CITIZEN BUT GOVERNMENTS IMPOSE ON THEM. GHANAIANS SHOULD BE READY TO PAY TAXES AND HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURES AND SOCIAL NEEDS