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Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, has stated that his party will obstruct any government endeavors to raise taxes during the mid-year budget review. He emphasizes that the NDC MPs will ensure the government reduces expenses instead of burdening the already suffering Ghanaians. He firmly believes that there is significant room for cutting expenditures.
Dr. Forson expressed his lack of surprise if the government introduces new measures, citing the IMF’s request for additional measures amounting to approximately 1% of GDP as stated in the MEFP. He questions the source of such measures.
He argues that there is substantial scope for reducing expenses, but the government’s lack of discipline and indifference prevent them from taking action. He criticizes the government’s desire to maintain a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the people of Ghana. He insists cutting expenditures should be prioritized over implementing new tax measures or increasing taxation.
In an interview with JoyNews, Dr. Forson stated, “They need to curtail such expenditures, and if I were in charge, I would opt for expense cuts rather than tax measures or tax increases.”
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, will present the 2023 mid-year budget review to Parliament on July 25. This marks his first budget review since the government successfully entered an IMF deal.
Before the review, industry stakeholders have already urged the government to utilize the opportunity to eliminate certain taxes, including the tax on sanitary pads, among others.
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Source: Omanghana.com
