Former president John Mahama has slammed Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia over the passage of three revenue bills amidst the current economic challenges facing Ghana.
The three revenue bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bill, and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill.
The bills were given the green light after a majority decision of 137-136 on Friday 31 March 2023. Government is seeking to generate approximately GHC4 billion a year to supplement domestic revenue following the passage of the three bills.
Reacting to the development on Facebook, Mahama said the government has failed to take measures aimed at easing the tax burden on Ghanaians.
“Government is estimated to save almost GHC50 billion this year from the suspension of external debt service payments and the Domestic Debt Exchange.
“This windfall and a reduction of government expenditure could have been used to reduce the tax burden being imposed on Ghanaian businesses and individuals now,” Mahama wrote on Facebook.
“In fact, it would have brought some tax relief to Ghanaian industry and business instead of the three new taxes from which government expects to raise only GHC4 billion. What happened to the zeal behind this video? Easier said than done?” Mahama asked.
