While in opposition, the NPP stated that if given the chance, it would shift the nation from “taxation to production.” It didn’t matter what was said before the election. This is according to Thomas Duanab Wuni Pearson, the DCE for the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, six years later. What matters are the current conditions.
Speaking to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show, Mr. Wuni Pearson explained that taxes are essential for the development of the country.
“It didn’t matter if we did [say from taxation to production]. We are producing but we need to tax in some areas to be able to fill the gaps.”
The DCE when pressed about the party’s clear and concise call to move the country from one that burdens the people with too many taxes to one that focuses on production said, “which government doesn’t talk about the productivity of the country? Which government? If we did, we have made an effort. As we talk, we are running about 105 completed 1D1F in this country. We are doing it but it is a gradual process. It is not an overnight activity.
On the pressing need for taxes, he said, “to introduce a tax and we take advantage of the numbers in Parliament and to think that we have a hung parliament, we can get out there and run amok and make sure that nobody pays the tax, we will all suffer and that is where we are.”
“When the government is mandated to run an economy, and all the tax policies the government brings, is being opposed, that is why we say noise would always shake the finance of the country. We spend too much time, running around, criss-crossing this country telling people not to pay taxes and [now] we are where we are.”
The DCE made these comments on the back of the address of the President about the state of Ghana’s economy and the government’s strategy to addressing same.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
