The impression being created by some members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the past National Democratic Congress (NDC) government taxed itinerant head porters (kayayei) is wrong, Rockson Defeamekpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi, has said.
According to him, it was the local assemblies that were taxing the porters, not the government, and, so, if there is anybody to be blamed for those taxes, it should be the local authorities.
The Akufo-Addo government has resolved to scrap market tolls paid by kayayei, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has announced to parliament in the new administration’s first budget.
The toll is among several taxes lined up by the government to be scrapped completely or reduced so as to bring relief to the ordinary Ghanaian and the business community.
Speaking on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Friday 3 March, Mr Dafeamekpor said: “Let me place it on record that the NDC government did not tax the kayayei.
“It is not as if the NDC taxed kayayei and now the NPP has come and removed the tax. It is the local authority that taxed the kayayei.”
Contributing to the discussion, the Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, Nana Amaniampong Marfo, said Mr Akufo-Addo has always had the welfare of Ghanaians at heart, which reflected in his maiden budget.
“Nana Addo has had good thoughts for the ordinary Ghanaian since 2008 and so it was not surprising that the tax paid by kayayei has been removed,” the MP said.
“Look at his policies on education, the Free SHS programme is a programme that will touch the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian. That is what Nana Addo wants, he wants to see the growth and development of every Ghanaian irrespective of your status.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
