PRESS RELEASE: Taxes On Petroleum Products Can Be Reduced By 70%

A group calling itself Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed a greater worry behind the whole issue that, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cannot reduce the taxes on petroleum products.

A press release issued by the Gallant Cadres revealed that "taxes on petroleum products can be reduced by 70%, hence, the comment made by Akufo-Addo that taxes on petroleum products cannot be reduced is very misleading.

According to the statement, it stressed that, "hardships are just too unbearable; the cost of living increase each day as many people struggle to cope. Each week people go to the market, they notice prices have shot up."

Read the statement below:

Press Release

To All Media Houses 

The Gallant Cadres of NDC

0505446753 

0594918533 

President Nana Addo Is Wrong. Taxes On Petroleum Products Can Be Reduced By 70%

The comment by Nana Addo that taxes on petroleum products cannot be reduced is very misleading. Taxes constitute about 70% of the total prices of petroleum products. The Gallant Cadres of NDC want to make it clear that the President can reduce the taxes so that consumers can enjoy a sigh of relief. The hardships are just too unbearable. 

The Gallant Cadres of NDC see the cost of living increasing each day as many people struggle to cope. Each week people go to the market, they notice prices have shot up. 

With all these taxes including the revenues, Ghanaian children finish school and search for jobs which are largely non-existent. No investment, no expansion. They graduate to stay at home and even when employed, the salary is just impossible to live on. If the youth are the future, then our future is largely unemployed. 

No wonder people enter into politics and become wealthy within a very short time. They even have the confidence to flaunt this new wealth in our face. Politics appears to have overtaken business as the quickest pathway to financial success. The "service" aspect of politics is lost. 

NPP politicians are saying Ghana is doing well and quick to add "just for a few". Can a majority of us say our pockets are better today? Obviously not. 

Ghana is broke but read about the salaries, benefits and perks of Government appointees for example CEOs of SOEs and you become confused. A country which is so broke that it cannot promptly pay National Service personnel is so wealthy to pay all these perks to Government appointees? 

If there is no money why are huge losses in our Auditor General reports yearly. Also, we read about huge losses among SOEs. The corruption is everywhere in high places too.

We hear about our economy growing very fast but it means nothing to Ghana since the economy of our pocket is going backwards and has been doing so for a while. Growth that does not reflect in my pocket cannot be considered real growth. And in the midst of all these challenges Ghanaians are being told to pay E-Levy from today. We introduced VAT and, found crude oil in commercial quantities oil hoping our pocket will improve but it did not. 

We wanted to see clear and tangible improvements in our lives but I am afraid to say we have not. 

We were promised protection of the public purse but we don't see it. 

We are told we are growing fast but our pocket growth is negative. 

We are reminded there is no money but we read about a $25,000 per hour hiring of jets and lavish expenditures. 

Please give us the type of leadership that will make Ghana proud to call you our leaders. 

Please give democracy a meaning to us by demonstrating you are truly interested in our plight. 

We will hold you accountable. 

Mindful that what is happening in Sri Lanka is likely to happen in Ghana.

Comrade Richard E A Sarpong, Father Casford. The PRO and Convener 0505446753

Mr F Kadan, Secretary. 0242276044

Mr P Buckman, Chairman. 0553982819

Source: AfricaNewsArenaGh.com