Deputy Minority leader in Parliament, James Klutse Avedzi, has denied accusations from the Majority that his side is plotting evil against the government.
He stated the Minority Caucus has no strategy whatsoever to obstruct government business and stressed they have made their position on the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) abundantly clear from the very beginning that they would never support it.
He challenged the Majority group to marshal their numbers in Parliament and defeat the Minority on the floor of the House on the levy if they wish to implement it.
During an interview on Tuesday after Parliament adjourned Sine Die without considering the controversial E-levy, the Deputy Minority leader questioned why the government is so keen on E-Levy when there are many Ghanaians who earn income through employment, business or investment but do not pay the required taxes.
According to him, the Minority has never hidden its position on the E-levy and has consistently given all the reasons why it believes the levy is something that should not be tolerated.
“This is something that is known to the Majority group so it is strange to hear them claiming we have a strategy to obstruct government business. For what,” he quizzed.
Hon. James Avedzi charged Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, to drop his lazy approach to taxation and go after people who should pay tax.
According to him, there are about 9 million Ghanaians that earn income and must pay direct tax to government and yet it is only 2.4 million who pay tax; and argued it is the job of the Ministry of Finance to chase after the 6.8 million people.
“Why is Ken Ofori Atta not choosing to go that way? He wants to sit in the comfort of his air-conditioned office and tax the lazy way, demanding tax on capital,” he said.
According to him, the Momo tax is not something that should be encouraged because taxing money transfer is synonymous to taxing capital and income that has already been taxed.
He said, “If I go to a restaurant there is already a VAT component on the food I purchase. If I use my mobile money account to pay, then I will be taxed again, that is the simple explanation.”
He called on the government and the Minister to rather look at how they can ensure the over six million Ghanaians who do not pay tax do so rather than target money transfers that Ghanaians send to their parents and other family members.
The NDC, he said, means well for Ghanaians that is why the party always goes for what the Ghanaian people want.
He challenged the NPP to listen to what Ghanaians are saying that the Momo tax is not good and drop it, if they also mean well for Ghanaians.
Source: Mypublisher24.com
