The 2024 New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been accused by Minority Leader of Parliament Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of copying National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Mahama’s tax-scrapping strategy when voted into office in December 2024.
According to the minority leader, this policy was first announced to the public by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama.
This comment comes after Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia addressed the nation on February 7, 2024, about his vision and policies, citing scrapping some taxes such as the e-levy, emissions, and 15% VAT on electricity when he attained power in 2025.
“Our flagbearer, John Mahama has made a public pronouncement that when given the power will remove it. He’s (Dr Bawumia) only copying him. I want to urge the people of Ghana, the only reason these taxes are still effective is because the NDC is not in office”, Ato Forson stated.
Speaking with Joy News, Kwaku Ashanti in Parliament, Dr. Ato Forson reiterated that, during the passage of these taxes, the vice president, who doubles as the 2024 flagbearer for the NPP, was in parliament as well as in favour of the policy and thus cannot exempt himself.
“And let me add this when these bills were first presented to this house, he (Dr Bawumia) was sitting here. He came to parliament with the minister responsible for finance to impose the E-Levy. He cannot turn around and tell all of us that he is not part of it”, Ato Forson said.
He further noted that it is “disgraceful and shameful” for the vice president to introduce a bill to parliament, rally for unanimous support, and later advocate for the removal of the tax.
According to the Minority Leader, it is “disgraceful and shameful” for the vice president to introduce a bill to parliament, rally for unanimous support, and later advocate for the removal of the tax, however, it undermines his credibility.