Members of the Ashanti Union Spinners Association have shut down their businesses in protest of what they call exorbitant taxes.
The union members claim that the new rate is affecting and collapsing their businesses.
Tony Oppong, the Chairman of the Ghana Union of Traders in the Ashanti Region, revealed that the traders previously paid a flat rate, but now pay a standard rate of 6%, which is charged with each product.
He explained that they had to add a tax to their products, which resulted in a massive drop in patronage.
“According to the new rate, we are required to charge a 6% tax on our products.” As a result, our products have become prohibitively expensive, and no one is buying them. The Ghana Revenue Authority is similarly unconcerned, focusing solely on tax collection. As traders, we are losing money and are forced to use resources intended for our businesses to pay taxes. We are no longer able to do so, so we have decided to use our stores.
We cannot have a situation in which our capital for our businesses is wasted. We should close our stores. It would be better to stay at home rather than have our money wasted.”
He bemoaned the fact that they are unable to expand their businesses due to the current economic climate.
Several attempts to persuade authorities to address their concerns, he added, have yielded no positive results.
He stated that over 300 shops in Adum are currently closed and that they will not reopen until their concerns are addressed.
He was speaking to Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
