The Member of Parliament for North Tongu has said that government does not need to impose new taxes on citizens to ensure it generates the needed revenue to undertake developmental projects.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that government has been preventing itself from generating enough resources due to deliberate tax irregularities.
Citing the 2018 Auditor General’s report, he noted that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) failed to collect a “staggering” GH¢2.66 billion from businesses and wealthy individuals “despite the millions of dollars struggling poor taxpayers spent on their rather opaque contract with the McKenzie Company Inc. in 2017 ostensibly to improve efficiency.”
In a Facebook post, he stated that “lawless GRA which is clearly in contempt of the Supreme Court for going ahead to implement the unconstitutional and repugnant E-Levy” should be made to address its challenges rather than take more from citizens.
“A government that enjoys compounding the burdens of the poor masses as it colludes with big businesses and connected individuals to evade taxes does not deserve our support to impose additional regressive revenue measures,” he added.
For the North Tongu MP, a “top-notch efficiency, accountability and a ruthless climate led by incorruptible leaders determined to punish corruption without selectivity” is what Ghana needs to ensure enough resources are generated and not draconian taxes.
He, therefore, quizzed: “When is government going to stop punishing every Ghanaian because of its own inefficiency, collusion and corruption?”
GhanaFeed.com
