Ghanaians Want Good Roads But Don't Pay The Required Tax - Dept. Minister Of Roads Fumes

Hon.Stephen Pambiin Jalulah, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highway in an interview with Yaw Omono Asamoah, host of 'Adeakyeabia' Morning Show on Liberty FM in his support of the 2022 budget has revealed only 2.2million of the expected 18million the total 30.8million population of Ghana pay their due taxes.

In support of the 'Agyenkwa' budget, he stated the government's introduction of the E-Levy is as a result of almost everyone in Ghana uses the mobile money as a mode of payment of services and the engagement of online transactions and businesses which the government does not gain any income tax from.

He revealed in his conversation that only 2.2 million out of the expected 18million of Ghana's population pay their due taxes which implies majority of Ghana's population don't pay their taxes. But for the government of Ghana to benefit from these people, the E-Levy has to be introduced. 

He further made comparisons of Ghanaians tax pay percentage to that of some other countries like UK and USA who pay 40% of income tax to the government and African countries such as South Africa and other African countries where the citizens pay 16.5% and 26.4% respectively, but Ghanaians only pay 12.2% income tax which shows Ghana is the lowest tax to GDP in the Sub-Saharan Afri. Yet Ghanaians want good roads, hospitals and some other good projects in other countries such as South Africa.

"Some other African countries pay 26.4%, South Africa pays 16.5%, UK and USA pays 40% of income tax, but Ghana has the lowest tax to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa that is 12.2% meanwhile, we want good roads, we want hospitals, we want schools and including everything we see in South Africa", he said.

In support of the youth in the country, the government has introduced a 'Youstart' initiative to support them with loans.

Hon. Stephen Pambiin Jalulah revealed on tax related issues that, "the informal nature of our economy" has led to poor tax paying system in Ghana where about 80% of our tax income is from only Greater Accra Region out of the total 16 regions since various sectors of employment does not also pay their due taxes to the country.