By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has rejected government’s charge of, at least, 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), on domestic consumption of electricity above the ‘life line’ threshold starting this month.
According to Mr. Mahama, who is also Ghana’s immediate former President, the VAT law has been there for many years, but previous governments decided not to implement it in view of the inherent socio-economic implications on Ghanaians and warned that Ghanaians would not accept the new VAT charges.
Government must therefore withdraw it immediately.
Mahama said this in Kumasi while addressing functionaries, members and sympathisers of the NDC at a mini rally to end a campaign christened “24-Hour Economy Sensitisation Walk.
The campaign walk, which was purposely to create greater public awareness about the party’s proposed 24-hour economy if he wins the next elections, was massively attended by members and sympathisers of the NDC as well as a section of the public who shared the ideology of the party.
It began at about 8 a.m. at the Aboabo Post Office in the Asokore Mampong Municipality amidst loud music and brass band music through vicinities such as Aboabo No. 2, the Asawase Railway Police Station through the Manhyia
Roundabout, Allah Bar, ‘Dr. Mensah’ and made a brief stop at the Kejetia Roundabout, where Mr. Mahama addressed the traders and patrons of the facility.
Here, Mr. Mahama said his next government will make the ‘free SHS programme better and also cancel the ‘double track system’ to re-align all the classes of students across all schools.
Procurement of food items for student meals would also be left to the management of school heads to address the issue of shortages in food items.
Mr. Mahama criticised the Vice President for failing to redeem his assurance to traders affected by last year’s inferno at the Kejetia Market Complex to fix the devastated portion.
He was, however, thankful to God that no fatalities were recorded during the fire outbreak.
He expressed concern about the delay in the completion of phase 2 of the Kejetia Market project and promised to complete it should he win the December 7 presidential election.
With some participants bearing placards of some key campaign messages such as ’24-Hour Economy’, ‘Obiara Bedidi’, ‘the Game Changer’, and ‘Jobs for Everyone’, the sensitisation walk continued through commercial areas like ‘PZ’, ‘Unicorn House’, ‘Aseda House’, and Asafo Interchange before ending at the Jubilee Park in the Subin Constituency in Kumasi.
As the walk went through the selected major roads, some of the participants took advantage to distribute educational materials explaining some ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ about the proposed 24-hour economy to bystanders.
At the mini-rally to run off the campaign walk were some prominent members of the NDC, including two of Mr. Mahama’s contenders in the NDC’s recent presidential primaries, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and Kojo Bonsu.
Also seen with the former President were a retired Commissioner of Police, Nathan Kofi Boakye, as well as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Offinso North in Ashanti in the 2020 national elections, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, who is also a known festish priest. There were some national executives of the party.
The National Chairman, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, explained that the walk was an initiative of the Ashanti region secretariat of the party to help educate the public about the proposed economic policy.
The flagbearer of the NDC and former President, John Mahama, criticised his successor, Nana Akufo-Addo, for some of his recent responses to complaints by some citizens requesting their share of the national cake.
Explaining his proposed ’24-hour Economy’, the NDC Flagbearer said it was embedded in the party’s proposed 40-year National Development Plan and that a comprehensive policy framework is being worked on.
He noted that, if implemented, the policy would help traders at the Kejetia Market Complex do business without interruptions.
He asked residents of the Ashanti region to vote for political parties and politicians who have shown faith in them by providing them with their share of the national cake.
Touching on party unity going into the December elections, the NDC’s Flagbearer urged any member of the NDC aggrieved for anything, including fallout from the various internal elections, to forgive one another and unite to make the party stronger to wrestle political power from the NPP.
