VP Bawumia: Can’t Scrap ‘Nuisance Taxes’ Until I’m In Charge

The NPP’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has dropped a bombshell, declaring that if it were up to him, he’d scrap so-called “nuisance taxes” like the infamous e-levy. But here’s the catch—he’s not in charge. That job falls to his boss, President Akufo-Addo, who, according to Bawumia, isn’t exactly taking notes from him when it comes to advice.

Bawumia, once hailed as the NPP’s economic whizz-kid, is now taking shots at some of the very policies he helped roll out as Head of the Government’s Economic Management Team, such as the much-loathed e-levy. He has become an unlikely critic of his own administration’s financial strategies.

Speaking to journalists at a Press Soirée in Accra, Dr Bawumia didn’t mince words, saying that while he’s brimming with new ideas, the power to make or break these taxes lies solely with the President. Sure, he’s got big ideas, but those ideas are nothing more than wishful thinking until he gets the top job.

And let’s not forget, this is coming from the Vice President—the second most powerful figure in government, and now the NPP’s leading man. But apparently, that’s not enough to influence decisions at the top.
Meanwhile, he has claimed ownership and patent rights for 33 policies under the same government he’s portraying to the world as indifferent. He boasts of initiating and implementing 33 policies as Vice President. Ironic, isn’t it?

“If I could, what would I do when I come into office? How can you do everything now? Even President Mahama, when he was in charge, couldn’t do it all. I’m just the Vice President. The budget? That’s not mine—it’s the President’s,” Bawumia said.

In response to a question, Bawumia insisted that his hands are tied—he’s only the Vice President, after all. “I don’t have full authority,” he said, pointing out that the budget, passed in Parliament, isn’t even in his name.

The Vice President, however, remains undeterred, promising that once he’s in office, he’ll have the power to push through his ideas. But for now, it seems the self-proclaimed economic wizard is stuck on the sidelines, waiting for his chance to really work his magic.

As the campaign heats up, Bawumia has vowed to run a clean, idea-driven campaign, focusing on fair and transparent elections. “Our goal,” he said, “is that at the end of the contest, we’ll know there’s work to do.” And it sounds like Bawumia can’t wait to get started.

Source:thehawknewspaper.com