The President of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) is disappointed at Parliament for approving government’s new tax bills without consulting stakeholders.
Dr Joseph Obeng disclosed that despite making several pleas and petitions to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin and Parliament itself to reconsider the decision to approve the tax bills, they were not heeded.
In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday Dr Obeng said the action of Parliament was needless as there are many options to consider other than approving the taxes.
“The situation that we find ourselves in is quite dicey, otherwise, there are so many things under our sleeves that we could have done because we have given the authority to government. The actions of parliament were uncalled for.
“Parliament did not listen to the people of Ghana. We have petitioned through the Speaker and the Parliament and then all the press releases and the petitions and the pleas – they did not consider. They never listened to us,” he said.
On April 1, parliament passed the three tax bills which were tabled before it as part of the government’s measures to generate more revenue.
The bills namely the Income Tax Amendment Bill, The Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and the Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill were passed on Friday evening.
Earlier, the government had stated that the revenue bills are needed to help the government complete processes for the about $3 billion IMF deal as well as improve the revenue situation of the country.
Dr Obeng believes they erred as they acted without thinking of their constituents.
The GUTA president said the MPs do not represent either themselves or their political parties but their constituents whose interest must be of utmost consideration when issues of taxes are to be deliberated upon.
He added that it is unfortunate that legislators carry out their activities in such a manner.
Dr Obeng’s comments come on the back of parliament approving three new revenue tax bills said to rake in ¢4 million.
However, associations and individuals are calling for a reconsideration of the bills amid the current economic crisis in that the execution of said bills could stifle already challenged businesses.
The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has appealed to government to reconsider the three new taxes before passing them through with implementation.
“Thus shall not sacrifice industry at the expense of IMF agenda which is clearly an objective of government and considering the state of affairs it is the priority of the government.
“But beyond securing this, if thou secures it through sacrificing the growth, there are consequences so in our conversation and our prayer to government we sought to demonstrate the consequences of this and that leads to the subject matter of the taxes collected over the period,” he said.
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