Dr. Lloyd Mensah, an economist, has urged government to look for other alternatives of financing its revenue targets and not increase taxes.
He has also given government the suggestion of considering a reduction in expenditure to reduce the burden the government purse.
Government last week announced moves to increase taxes in the country. The announcement did not meet well with the expectations of citizens and the business folk who have greatly criticized and called for a critical look into the increment.
Dr. Mensah is one of such people who have made their stance against the move very clear.
Speaking in an interview on Day Break Upper East on A1 Radio, the astute economist advised government to let go off certain policies that would have debilitating effects on the economy of the country.
He said policies like the 1D1F should either be one factory per region or executed at a pace that will not push the country into debts.
“If you want to spend because you have promised Ghanaians some things and you think by hook or crook you have to fulfill it, there is nothing wrong coming back to Ghanaians and telling them that 1D1F has been reviewed and therefore you can do it on regional basis or we take it bit by bit.
“Government must look at it critically before the economy itself stagnates”.
Dr. Mensah expressed worry over how politics comes to play when issues of national interest are discussed. According to him, handlers of the economy will say it is not “politically wise” when suggestions are given to government to cut down its expenditure.
“If you suggest to them (government) to reduce expenditure, they will say it is not politically wise. If it is not politically wise, then the whole budget is around politics. This for me is problematic”.
He called for proper handling of the economy devoid of politics.
A1 Radio News|A1radioonline.c om|Ghana
