As the Parliament of Ghana gears to decide on government’s new tax bills, the Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central constituency, Mahama Ayariga has assured the public that the Minority in Parliament will definitely shoot down these tax measures.
The Minority in Parliament has earlier made their stance public that they oppose the tax measures of the government and hence will definitely oppose them.
The three bills are the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central noted that he is confident his side will this time around stand together and vote against what they describe as obnoxious tax measures.
Explaining why he is confident that these tax measures won’t sail through, Mr. Ayariga explained that, unlike the approval of the ministerial nominees where a secret vote was used, a headcount will be conducted to determine whether the new tax bills should be accepted or not and that will help in the rejection of the bills.
“It is going to be a voice vote where if you are not satisfied, we call for a division and then there will be a headcount and the matter will be determined, and I am very confident that all our members will be in the House and vote in line with our position to vote against the bill,” the MP explained.
He added that “you will stand and be counted and everybody including your constituents will be watching and so if you don’t go with your constituents, they will see and measure you accordingly,” he further explained.
He however noted that the only condition upon which the Minority would have sided with the government on the tax was if President Akufo-Addo had made effort to reduce what they describe as a bloated government in order to reduce expenditure.
Meanwhile the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has earlier called for support for the passage of the government’s revenue measures laid before parliament for approval.
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi is of the opinion that the failure of parliament to pass these three revenue measures will definitely jeopardize the country’s much anticipated quick economic recovery.
Oppong Nkrumah explains that these bills when passed, will shore up the country’s revenue gap and enable the country to also broker a deal with the IMF hence thwarting any unforeseen calamity that can further befall the economy.
