The Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA) has urged the implementation of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s promises, particularly regarding the reduction and elimination of nuisance taxes.
President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, said the Vice President has demonstrated that he listens to issues raised by the business community and has factored them into his policies.
Speaking to Rainbowradioonline.com after the Vice President delivered his policies on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, he said if the promises given by the second gentleman of the land can be achieved, then they ought to be implemented.
Delivering his address, the Vice President opposed the implementation of several tax policies, particularly the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).
He said to foster economic growth and fight corruption, we need to encourage people to use more electronic channels of payment rather than discourage them.
“To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore be abolished,” he declared.
He further announced that the value-added tax on electricity consumption, if he is elected, and the emissions tax will be scrapped.
Dr. Obeng, reacting to these promises, said it was good that the candidate of the NPP has recognised how nuisance taxes were affecting the business community and has decided to scrap them, but demanded that these policies be immediately implemented.
“He has proven that whatever we have complained about, he listens. We have consistently underscored the need for taxes to be drastically reduced because the excessive taxes we pay do not allow our businesses to thrive. For him to say we will no longer have GRA officials come to sit in our shops because he does not want it is good. After all, we are not in a police state.
Customs officials coming to embark on a post-tax clearance audit every two years was not the best, and making it five years was also good. It is fair. These are things we have been saying all the time, and he has listened and used them to formulate his policies. That is all about governance. You listen to the people and give them what they need.
We are talking about tax compliance, and the fact that it would be affordable and the tax net being widened is achievable, so for him to make tax flat is what excites me. He also claimed to be the mate, so we should make him the driver and further explore his role in digitization. But our main call is that it would be best if these policies were immediately implemented.
In the past, we implemented a flat-rate tax policy. It is achievable, and we have in the past met our targets. If this is implemented, it will be very good and help the government a lot.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana