Lately, I have observed, monitored, and read a lot about the promises made by the NDC when it comes to the scrapping of some taxes.
Among these taxes included the E Levy and Betting Tax, which the NDC promised to scrap outright without any hesitation.
In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, these individuals lambasted the Former President, Nana Addo, with all manner of unsavory and derogatory remarks.
Shockingly after Ghanaians gave the NDC an overwhelming mandate to rule, some of these people who were NDC sympathizers now want to beat a retreat as if such a move would be economically unwise.
What has changed? Can these people be trusted? It beats my imagination looking at their current stance. Didn’t they know that it was economically unwise for such a move?
They opined that the new administration led by President Mahama should not scrap the E Levy and Betting Tax, which they made noise about, and promised to do away with these two taxes.
In an actual sense, it leaves much to be desired taking a cursory look at what their positions were before the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Truly, the two leaders of the political parties promised to scrap the E Levy and Betting Tax and it’s quite perplexing and strange for the NDC that used it against the erstwhile administration led by President Nana Addo to be shifting away from their promise.
I see this current development as disgusting and a clear lack of honesty and integrity on the part of these NDC members who have a distinct opinion after they have won power. This is disingenuous and the lack of principle.
Fast forward on social media, especially Facebook, I have come across this hypocritical stance by some known NDC social media activists who are preaching for the President to leave the scrapping of these taxes.
Isn’t it fascinating? Yes, it is; this should have come from a different group of people who have been consistent with their arguments on the issue of taxes and their significance when it comes to revenue mobilization.
In an actual sense, we all know the importance of taxes about revenue measures and how they contribute to the government’s ability to meet their obligations when it comes to the payment of salaries of workers, infrastructural development, and other businesses by the government.
Notwithstanding the significance of taxes to national development, some Ghanaians have asserted that some of these taxes, once collected, are not used judiciously for their intended purposes, thereby casting doubt on why they should pay more taxes.
This argument may be valid, especially with the judicious use of these taxes for accelerated development of the Country and the improvement in the lives of the people through the initiation of viable policies.
As we all know, the new Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson will present the Budget of the government to Parliament and Ghanaians on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The presentation of the Budget statement will outline some of the expenditures, measures, and the number of taxes to be scrapped and some that may be roped in.
However, our friends in the NDC who were on the neck of the Former President to scrap outrightly the E Levy and Betting Tax taxes should be firm and bold in their stance.
In fact, didn’t they know the economic value and importance of these taxes and why this strange behavior of running away from their initial argument?
In a nutshell, we must be honest and consistent with our assertions on certain pertinent matters confronting the development and growth of our Nation. This unfortunate move by some of these NDC activists must be subjected to strict debate to clear their hypocrisy and double standards.
Shalom!
Long Live Ghana!
By: Abdulai Abdul-Razak
Tamale South Constituency
[email protected]
