THE RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo/Dr. Mahamoudu Bawumiah has introduced VAT on teaching and learning materials in Ghana.
Parents are now required by the NPP government to start paying VAT on any kind of exercise or textbooks and stationeries they will buy for their children at school.
According to the NDC Minority Caucus in Parliament led by Dr. Cassel Ato Forson, this additional burden on parents is uncalled for, and it was as a result of mismanagement of the country’s economy by Dr. Bawumiah. These VAT affected items include:
• Textbooks,
• Exercise books,
• Newspapers,
• Publications,
• Architectural plans,
• Scientific and technical works,
• Magazines,
• Periodicals,
• Calendars,
• Trade catalogue,
• Price list,
• Diaries,
• Stationery etc.
During the “Moment Of Truth Series” in Accra yesterday, Hon Ato Forson called on the general public to support them in parliament to help stop the killer Legislative Instrument (LI) the NPP led Akufo-Addo/Bawumiah government is desperately attempting to introduce in Parliament, because the LI has serious implications for Ghanaians.
This Legislative Instrument (L.I) is a restriction the Akufo-Addo/Bawumiah government is introducing on selected imported products into the country.
Dr. Ato Forson explained that the L.I, the Export and Import Regulations, 2023, seeks to give the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kwabena Tahiru (K.T) Hammond the sole prerogative and absolute power to grant licenses to any person desirous of importing into the country. These essential items numbering twenty-two (22), include;-
• Rice
• Guts, bladders, stomach and intestines of animals
• Poultry
• Frozen cuts and offal of fowl
• Animal, vegetable, coconut and palm oil
• Margarine
• Fruit juices
• Soft drinks
• Mineral water
• Ceramic tiles
• Corrugated paper and paper board
• Mosquito coil and insecticides
• Soaps and detergents.
Other items are ;-
• Motor cars
• Iron and steel
• Diaper
• Polymers (plastic and plastic products)
• Fish
• Sugar
• Clothing and apparel
• Biscuits
• Canned tomatoes
• Aluminium products.
The Minority Leader also described the 5% VAT flat rate on those who want to buy a house or a real estate house in this difficult times they (NPP) brought into Ghanaians as insensitive.
The NDC Parliamentary Caucus further condemned Dr. Mahamoudu Bawumiah as the head of Economic Management Team to lead the introduction of these killer L.I.
The government further imposed VAT on domestic air travels, VAT on the domestic transportation of passengers by road, rail and on water; and further increase in stamp duty rates across board; and new Excise Duty Amendments Bills, which seeks to increase the excise duty on Cider beer from 20% to 47.5% of ex factory price, amongst others.
Source:Nationaltymes.com
