One of the interesting issues to have captured most media headlines regards the reversal of Benchmark values for imported products. The Minority NDC have kicked against the reversal of the tariffs and have argued that this will end up imposing more hardships on the already burdened Ghanaian. At a press conference today, Wednesday, January 5, 2022, Sammy Gyamfi the NDC Communications Officer raised a number of reasons why the NDC stands opposed to the new taxes.
According to Sammy Gyamfi it was this same Bawumia led policy that introduced benchmark values to improve the local industry and curb the tide of smuggling. Dr. Bawumia felt that if importation taxes are standardized it will take off some of the burden from Ghanaians. However, years later, President Akufo-Addo and his economic guru, Dr. Bawumia have once again reneged on their promises like they did for the tax on Momo.
Prices of goods like rice, sugar, spaghetti, biscuits, minerals, poultry, gum, cement, noodles pharmaceuticals etc. are to go up by 50% while import duties on vehicles were to shoot up by 30%. According to Sammy Gyamfi it was unfair for government to impose new taxes after when Ghanaians are already suffering. Sammy queried the import of the reversals as Ghana has no sugar factory and so wondered which sugar industry the government seeks to protect. Sammy also queried government’s commitment to fight smuggling because with the higher taxes it means people will look for new routes to smuggle in cheap products.
According to Sammy Gyamfi with the new increases on pharmaceuticals it means even condoms will go high. He called on all Ghanaians to put away their political affiliations and help fight against these new taxes on over 40 commodities which are important. He challeneged the government to be sympathetic if they indeed claim they care about the ordinary Ghanaian.
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