Withdraw obnoxious E-levy, stick to your ‘taxation to production’ mantra – TEIN to Akufo-Addo

Deputy Coordinator of Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN), a student wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Ekow Djan, has asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to withdraw the E-levy from Parliament.

Me Djan described the E-levy as obnoxious.

A statement he issued on Wednesday February 2 said “The Ghanaian people reject the E-Levy. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must withdraw the obnoxious E-levy and stick to his ‘from taxation to production’ position.

“According to Vice President Bawumia, he worked with the Bank of Ghana and knows the money is here. President Akufo-Addo is on record to also have said ‘y3te Sika so’. To wit, Ghana has enough resources.

“Let’s make good use of the ‘Sika’ Akufo-Addo point out to while in opposition. The President must cut down unnecessary expenditures. This is not the time the President should be flying in expensive Private Jets, and feasting in his home. This is the time the President should seal all leakages and prosecute his corrupt appointees. No need to tax Ghanaians again.”

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has said that his administration is determined to raise the needed revenue, domestically, to embark on development projects.

The President noted that efforts of his administration to raise revenue are being resisted by the opposition party but he is still determined.

President Akufo-Addo said these when addressing traditional leaders from Dzodze in the Volta region on Tuesday, 1st February 2022.

He said “Revenues during 2020/2021 went down considerably because of the slowing down of the economic activities that came from the COVID-19. At the same time, government, in order to keep the country going, did incur some expenditures on the free water, the free electricity.

“These were the unavoidable expenses that government had to make.”

He added “These are the efforts that we are now making which are being resisted by the opposition but we will try and close the gap. That is the reason it has become necessary for us to use these measures like this famous tax which has caused so much unnecessary, in my view disputation; nevertheless, we would continue.”

He stressed “I am determined to persevere to make sure we find the means to address some of these issues.

“These are the efforts that we are now making which have been being resisted by the opposition as we try and close the gap. It is necessary for us to do so because that is the only way which some of these matters can be addressed.

“We ourselves have to find the money for our development and that is the reason why it has become necessary for us to use these measures like this famous tax which has caused so much unnecessary, in my view, disputation; nevertheless, we would continue.”