The State of the Nation: Minority has "washed their hands" off the VAT legislation.......

Title: Minority walks out of Parliament in protest of 2.5% increase in VAT
Dated: 15-11-213

The Minority has walked out of Parliament accusing the government of smuggling a 2.5 per cent increase in the Value Added Tax into a legislation under consideration by the House.

The members say the government is using its Majority in the House to push through the increase without debate and due process.

A deputy Finance Minister is said to have smuggled in a 2.5 per cent increase in the rate and is threatening to push it through to be passed as law. VAT is currently 12.5 percent.

The majority in Parliament appear to be in support of the move but the minority are protesting the increase.

Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankamah has described the action by the government as "a disgrace".

He told Joy News' Parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey, Parliamentary procedures have been sidelined in a desperate bid to have the bill passed into law.

He explained that for a new tax to be imposed, which the government and the majority is threatening to do, a specific legislation ought to have been brought before the house, deferred to a committee for a thorough discussion after which the bill will be debated on the floor of the house.

He suspects none of that has been done and yet the House is being asked to push the bill through.
The minority subsequently staged a walk-out and chose to organise a press conference.

Its leader, Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu told the press they have "washed their hands" off the VAT legislation.

According to him, the Finance Ministry has not provided any information as to reason behind the proposed VAT increase.

In any case, he argued, the problems with Ghana's economy have more to do with corruption, than the level of VAT which the government is planning to increase.

He said it is a well known fact that the government is riddled with corruption and there is every likelihood any proposed increase in VAT will provide more money that will only end up in the pockets of individuals....

Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2013/November-15th/minority-walks-out-of-parliament-in-protest-of-25-increase-in-vat.php




Paulina says: The parliament of Ghana is not a parliament for the NDC (only)....The parliament of Ghana is not a parliament for the NDC (only)....The parliament of Ghana is not a parliament for the NDC(only)........The parliament of Ghana is not a parliament for the NDC(only)........

http://www.parliament.gh/