The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, of being dishonest and inconsistent in his promises to abolish certain taxes if he wins the 2024 General Elections.
In a lecture on Feb. 7, 2024, Dr. Bawumia outlined his vision of transforming every sector of the country’s economy and announced plans to scrap the e-levy, emission levy, and betting tax, among others, when he becomes the president of Ghana.
However, the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Flavi Kwetey, challenged Dr. Bawumia to show his sincerity by joining the NDC to remove those taxes immediately, rather than waiting for the future. He said Ghanaians cannot endure even a single day more under the weight of the said oppressive taxes, let alone ten months.
“Our advice to the Vice President is that if he has indeed turned a new leaf and has seen the light, like Saul on his way to Damascus, he should show genuine contrition by first apologizing to Ghanaians and then join the NDC to scrap these taxes now and not in the future. The Ghanaian people cannot live through another day of these suffocating taxes, let alone ten good months,” he said.
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Addressing the press, Mr Kwetey questioned Dr. Bawumia’s credibility and referenced previous campaign messages of the 2012 elections when the then-running mate Dr. Bawumia told the NDC that “when the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you.” to buttress his point.
“Only to turn around in 2019 when the currency was fast depreciating that you made that statement rather in 2014 when the fundamentals were weak when the records show that you made the statement in 2012 at a time the fundamentals were relatively stronger?” the NDC Secretary indicated.
The imposition of a levy on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for internal combustion engine vehicles, as outlined in the Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112), was announced by the government on February 1. This measure aligns with the government’s broader initiatives aimed at addressing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting eco-friendly technology, and ensuring environmental safety.
Ghana has become the third African nation to implement a variation of a carbon tax, following in the footsteps of South Africa and Mauritius.
