Since the day our Majority Leader, Ayariga, coined the phrase ‘only one cedi,’ to urge Ghana to accept a new petroleum levy, I have been combing my ancient wallets for one-cedi notes, popularly called ‘Vodaphone.’ Cockroaches have had a field day in my pockets, chewing and helping Bank of Ghana to phase out the red note. One cedi. This is a banknote that is snubbed by beggars and tro-tro mates. At church, the fragile red note is sometimes segregated in collection bowls for the attention of evil eyes. You know what it means, when your pastor ahead of ‘collection time,’ advises against giving unto God only a ‘Vodaphone note.’
Overnight, nicknames for the newest levy multiplied: Energy Levy, Fuel Levy, Dumsor Levy. But all this was simplified when Eii Ato, the Finance Minister called it the One Cedi Levy, which was approved ‘under a certificate of urgency’ a parliamentary lingo that comes with the local footnote, ‘pass this bill now, or we die;’ Anye a morowu in Cape Coast parlance. The Minority smelling a rat walked out that day, having counted their fingers to discover that Ato’s ‘Only one cedi’ slogan really meant ‘Almost five cedis.’ Horrible details about the merciful levy came tumbling, and compelled one respectable critic to call the entire transaction the ‘fastest pickpocketing ever…’ Next came one opposition MP, who dispensing parliamentary courtesies, dismissed it as ‘wicked’ and ‘plain thievery.’ ‘If the E-Levy was daylight robbery, Dumsor Levy was an armed invasion,’ Oppong Nkrumah bared his knuckles.
Ghana had so soon forgotten that Finance ministers are also budget sweeteners, and from time immemorial have never offended the voter with bad news. In keeping with campaign promises of ‘no new taxes’, they convey no bad news, but dress tough budgets in deodorant and perfumed rice. Thus petrol prices are never increased, they are slightly ‘adjusted’ in keeping with inflation; and any increase in cassava prices cannot be traced to Government, but the Russian-Ukraine war, or of late Israel-Iran missiles. Right from the days of Osagyefo’s Kwasi Amoako Atta through Nana Addo’s Ofori Atta, then Mahama’s Eii Ato Forson, no budget has been bad news; yet every budget has been bad news. It was once said of beloved Baah Wiredu, Kufuor’s finance minister: “Honorable is so smooth and sweet-tongued that after he has explained the budget, you feel like saying: Honorable if that is the case then please increase our taxes.”
Come 1991 a Kwesi Botchwey budget for JJ’s PNDC. The world was enduring a major Gulf crisis featuring oil producing Iraq against allied Western forces. Pump prices here went up by 70 percent within three months of a 50% hike. While all fingers were pointed at the PNDC secretary for Fuel and Power, Ato Ahwoi; Kwesi B brought some relief, announcing a steep price increase for ‘gasoline:’ an unusual word occasionally applied to diesel. Petrol users who were in the majority celebrated; Kwesi B had spared them. The increase also refered to one ‘liter;’ no mention of the popular ‘gallon.’ If the price of a liter of gasoline had gone up, a gallon of petrol had probably been spared. Days later it was realized Kwesi B had dribbled the entire population—suuriya–and travelled. Here now comes Eii Ato simulating Kwesi: both he and Kwesi B coming from the same Central Region. Eii Mfantsefo!
But let me end with the Busia regime 1969 to 72, where the glib-tongued JH Mensah was Minister for Finance. After a tough budget had been launched by the Progress Party, JH added to the debate a sweetener that softened resistance. Come with me to the parliamentary proceedings of July 1971. The words of JH Mensah pushing an austerity budget:
‘Etuo bene a egyina barima bo. This means our grandfathers used to go to war with guns, and after hours of fighting, the guns got hot. It is the coward who when the gun is hot drops it. The brave keeps the heated gun. The gun is hot and the government of the Progress Party is asking the whole nation to be steadfast and go through the temporary difficulty; and I am sure during the Progress Party program of development, we will come out a wealthier and progressive nation.’
The outcome is history; but decades later, here comes this One Cedi Levy, which has been mercifully withdrawn by JDM for cosmetic surgery. We pray that should it return later in life, the bold truth will be told that, ‘Here is a Levy that can give you nightmares; but the good Lord will make His face to shine upon you.’
All who agree with the motion say Aaaaaye…
The No’s have it!
Source: Kwesi Yankah
kyankah@ashesi.edu.gh
