Yapei-Kusawgu MP, John Jinapor, is emphatically asserting that the erstwhile John Mahama administration was ten times better than the current Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
As the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, Jinapor contends that the hardships currently experienced by Ghanaians have never been witnessed in the country’s history.
He pointed to high taxes, the soaring cost of living, and the losses suffered by some investors on their investments as clear evidence supporting his assertion, which he believes cannot be disputed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on Metro TV on Tuesday, February 6, the former Deputy Power Minister urged Ghanaians to hold the NPP accountable in the upcoming December polls.
Furthermore, Jinapor dismissed any attempts by the NPP and its supporters to absolve Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the government’s failures, insisting that such efforts will not hold water.
“Mahama administration is 10 times better than this administration and the facts are there to support it. Highest inflation, haircut on people’s investment, high cost of living and all the Ghanaian people are witnessing under this incompetent Akufo-Addo are facts.”
“So all attempts by the government and its assigns to whitewash Dr Bawumia will not wash. Ghanaians are wide awake and no amount of deception will save them this time,” he said.
A former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has also criticised the Akufo-Addo government for implementing what he considers the “worst tax system” in Ghana’s history.
He argued that the current tax regime is excessively harsh and punitive, which could lead individuals to resort to tax evasion tactics.
Mr Terkper emphasised the importance of the government taking into account the heavy burden already placed on Ghanaians when formulating tax policies.
“I think we are seeing the worst of the tax system… It is the most punitive and worst tax structure that we have had. And as with every punitive tax, you will end up not collecting, or generating as much revenue as possible,” he said.
“But more importantly, when you begin to introduce punitive taxes, taxpayers find ways and means of evading and avoiding the tax. So if you have a simplified tax regime it is better and compliance increases.
“And the evidence is that if you look at our tax-to-GDP ratio well until recently as GRA is claiming, the highest point at which revenue was collected was 2015 per the percentage of GDP, not nominal terms.”
Source: myjoyonline.com / Ernest K. Arhinful
