20% tax on ‘akpeteshie’ : Dr Ato Forson slams Gov.t ‘s “insatiable appetite for taxes”

Consumers of the locally prepared alcoholic drink, akpeteshie, have been urged to brace themselves to pay more for the commodity.

According to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, this is as a result of the Akufo-Addo led government’s “insatiable appetite for taxes.”

The Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP in his concluding remarks on the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy document alleged that the government has introduced 50 new taxes since assuming the reins of power in 2017.

He added that the taxes have brought nothing but too much burden on the already impoverished Ghanaian.

“Mr. Speaker, you recall in 2017 this same Finance Minister told this House that they were removing so-called ‘nuisance taxes.’ That was a hoax! Today, we are witnessing an epidemic of nuisance taxes, taxes, and more taxes.”

“This government has burdened Ghanaians with over 50 taxes despite their promise ‘to shift the economy from taxation to production.’ Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the over 50 taxes imposed by this government since 2017, this 2024 budget is introducing additional taxes worth GH¢11 billion,” Dr Forson said in Parliament on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

Taking to his social media pages to give a breakdown of the taxes, he accused the government of running out of ideas through the imposition of taxes.

“The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is imposing 20% tax on ‘akpeteshie’ (they have run out of ideas),” he said.

“Petrol and diesel vehicle owners should also expect to pay a new annual tax of GHS100 per vehicle on all petrol and diesel cars (internal combustion engine vehicles). This tax will be imposed on all trotros, aboboyaas, okadas, taxis, commercial buses, trucks, ambulances, construction and heavy duty vehicles, water tankers, private cars, etc. Once your vehicle is powered by petrol or diesel, the government is imposing this tax on you. According to the government, this policy is aimed at promoting the use of cleaner/more eco-friendly sources of energy (like electric vehicles). Companies will also pay be GHS 100 per tonne of carbon dioxide emission.”

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has served notice that it cannot support the 2024 budget because of the introduction of the new taxes.

As a result the budget still hangs in the balance after the NPP MPs walked out on it during its approval process on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

The House is thus expected to take a firm stance on the fate of the budget on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Source:newsalertgh