The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to abolish some taxes imposed by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, made this assurance during a press conference on Sunday, following the recent declaration by the Speaker of Parliament that four parliamentary seats are now vacant.
The affected MPs are Cynthia Morrison of Agona West, Kwadjo Asante of Suhum, Andrew Amoako Asiamah of Fomena, and Peter Kwakye Ackah of Amenfi Central.
These seats were declared vacant after their occupants indicated their intention to contest upcoming elections on different party tickets, instead of the ones they currently represent.
Dr Ato Forson, addressing the press, expressed the NDC’s commitment to using its newly acquired majority to ease the financial burden on citizens by introducing private members’ bills aimed at scrapping several taxes.
Among those mentioned were the controversial e-Levy and the betting tax, which he referred to as “nuisance taxes.”
“We will use our new majority numbers to benefit Ghanaians by introducing private members’ bills to remove the e-Levy and reduce the suffering of the people,” Dr Ato Forson stated.
“It is also true that we will use our new majority to remove the betting tax and other nuisance taxes.”
The NDC leader accused the current government of creating a “high tax regime” that has stifled businesses and placed undue pressure on the average Ghanaian. He assured the public that his party, now in control of the majority in Parliament, would act swiftly to protect businesses and provide relief to the populace.
“We have never hidden our position that we are in this Parliament for the ordinary Ghanaian,” Dr Ato Forson emphasized. “We will jealously protect our new majority status and will not bow, retreat, nor surrender our lawfully earned status.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution on a ruling by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, which declared the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant.
However, Dr Ato Forson remained defiant, insisting that “any interference with the business of Parliament is unlawful and unacceptable.”
