Protesting Business lobbyists did nothing until new taxes were imposed- Bright Simons

MyNewsGHApr 5, 2023 12:59 PM

Technologist and Honorary Vice President of think tank Imani Centre for Policy and Education (Imani Africa), Bright Simons has chided the business community in Ghana for failing to oppose plans by the Government to impose new taxes until Parliament passed the bills into law.

Mr. Simons wondered why they sat aloof for the Government to push the new tax bills through Parliament despite the loud opposition from the minority caucus only to begin protesting after the tax bills became law, describing the development as “strange”.

“Strange country. Ghana govt spent months pushing new tax bills in Parliament. The Opposition resisted passage every inch of the way. The business lobby did NOTHING to team up with the Opposition or to activate Civil Society. Now that the bills are law, they’re protesting?” He tweeted.

On Friday, March 31, 2023, Parliament imposed three new taxes by approving four financial bills or a Government meant to boost revenue generation. The bills included the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.

After the bills were duly passed, the business community opposed them, arguing that the taxes will hurt their businesses.

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), and other business groups have been protesting following the passage of the bills.

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