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Real income in the country has suffered another setback as taxes on petroleum products rise. The announcement of the increases, as captured by the media, means that the Ghanaian worker and others would have monies at their disposal depleted even beyond what they have been since the economy went into hibernation as it were.
The impression of reckless management of the economy as being the reason why government continues to resort to such harsh methods of ostensibly shoring the retarded fiscal state of the country has not helped in getting Ghanaians to agree to the decision.
Stories of non-retrieved judgement debts and open thievery of the state kitty are beyond comprehension. It is therefore insulting to the intelligence of the people when a government appointee tells them that the taxes are needed to undertake a development agenda which largely exists.
Inflated costs of projects which Ghanaians are learning about through a vociferous media and political opposition, without gainsaying, indicates that those at the helm do not have the interest of the country at heart.
The consistency with which taxes are being slapped on the already tax-fatigued people is alarming and nearing a crisis level, especially as further increases are not out of the equation.
People would not have had any qualms with paying taxes when the reasons these taxes are being extracted from them are tangible and serving their (people’s) interests. Not so, however, when at the end of the day infrastructural developments are not discernible as the number of kids not being able to access education is on the rise and health delivery continuously eludes the reach of the poor.
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It is lamentable the proclivity of government turning to taxing petroleum products whenever it is hot as it has been in recent times – the fallout from a mismanaged economy. The price of crude oil on the international market has been on an all-time low Brent and others.
Ghanaians are hard-pressed and would have rather good governance and prudent management of the economy been pursued as government policy as opposed to the current order which has reduced Ghanaians to near paupers.
Salaries, when they are received by employees, cannot meet the important needs of families, compelling parents to reduce the quality of their children’s education and even health requirements under the circumstances, among others.
With an expected increase in transport fares in the next few days, farmers would by necessity increase the prices of farm produce.
The reduction of the real income affects the quality of life of the citizens of this country. Although there is no justification for the rising spate of corruption, the more Ghanaians are squeezed through killer taxations, the more impetus this provides for the aberration to fester.
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