The Majority in Parliament has accused the Minority of deliberately hindering Ghana’s economic growth by consistently blocking tax waivers under consideration by parliament.
This comes on the heels of Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s assertion that the Minority saved Ghana $150 million by challenging the government’s tax waiver for 42 companies under the One-District-One-Factory initiative.
He explained that due to the Minority’s objections to some of the assessments of the companies, the exemptions were revised from $459 million to $335 million.
However, addressing reporters in parliament on Thursday, May 30, 2024, the Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said the Minority’s constant opposition to the tax waivers was preventing the said businesses from expanding.
This, he said, will directly stunt the growth of the country’s economy.
READ ALSO: Minority Kicks Against GH¢5.5 In Tax Waiver For 45 Companies
“The Minority leader, Dr Ato Forson, is leading that charge on behalf of the minority NDC in Parliament, and their main aim is to obstruct government business and to deny the people of Ghana the needed economic growth, which will result from businesses investing in the country and expanding their businesses,” the Majority leader said.
He added that the Minority’s actions were hypocritical as the previous NDC government granted over $800 million in tax waivers to some businesses.
“But we know that in 2016, this country experienced the most outrageous tax giveaway we’ve ever seen in Ghana when the NDC led by President John Mahama handed a tax waiver of $832 million to Meridian Port Services. At the time, the NDC government applied for a tax waiver of $982 million for the port project.
“And through the vigilance of the minority then, we shut it down up to $832 million, saved the government and the people of Ghana some $100 million, and even requested that further works be done,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minority has clarified that they are not against tax exemptions in principle, but they have issues with the tax exemptions for the 1D1F project.