The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has demanded that the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, apologise to the organization’s members for suggesting that traders exploit Ghanaians and have no moral right to complain about taxes.
According to the group, the First Deputy Speakers’ behaviour is ‘unfortunately dragging the honourable House of Parliament to disrepute, and needs to be called to order.”
GUTA described the Bekwai MP as arrogant, ignorant, and disrespectful, in a sharply worded statement, and reminded the MP that traders have no choice but to sell products at high costs due to the government’s many levies.
Mr. Osei-Owusu is said to have stated in an interview with Oyerepa TV that GUTA members “are always talking about taxes, and yet they are over-exploiting Ghanaians, and I’m saying this without fear.”
In response, GUTA stated that its members are patriotic and honest and do not take advantage of their consumers.
“We have listened to and read the unguarded statements made by no mean a person than the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Ghana and demand an immediate retraction and unqualified apology to GUTA and all members of the business community.
“We condemn in no uncertain term the statements, and the sheer arrogance and complete ignorance exhibited on the genuine inputs GUTA made on those three taxes he mentioned.”
Kindly read the statement below;
