[ 2017-04-04 ]

Gov't's populist policies not improving living conditions - Minority
The Minority in Parliament says government’s
economic policies are failing to improve the
living conditions of Ghanaians following reports
of 15% increase in transport fares. 

They point to an increasing cost of living since
the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over the reigns
of government, citing the latest announcement
of increases in transport fares which takes
effect on Thursday.

On Monday, Parliament approved an amendment to the
Energy Sector Levy Act to cut the Public Lighting
Levy by two percent and National Electrification
Scheme Levy by three percent.

This is expected to result in a three to five
percent reduction in the price of petroleum
products and electricity.

Last month, the House approved a reduction in the
Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from
17.5 to 15 percent.

Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi says
the increase in transportation fares is an
indication that government’s policies to bring
relief to Ghanaians are not working.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament during the
final debate on the 2017 budget, the Deputy
Minority Leader said the tax cuts will endanger
the country’s economy if they are not handled
properly.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta announced the
abolishment of duty on spare parts and seven
other tax cuts when he delivered the 2017 budget
statement on March 2.

However, the Ketu North MP says, "If government
says it is cutting taxes but the transport fares
are going up, then it means it is not going to
benefit the people. Ghanaians' pockets are going
to be dry because people need to pay more.

"Government says it is reducing the VAT on
petroleum products, it should reflect in fuel
prices and then the lorry fares, without
that their policies are not making any impact,"
he said.  

He questioned what the effects of government's
policies have been on the living conditions of the
ordinary Ghanaian adding "NPP should stop this
populist policies and strategies. If really you
are thinking about the people of Ghana, let it
reflect."

According to Mr Avedzi, although government does
not fix transport fares, it has to appeal to the
Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and
other transport companies to ensure that they
don't fix the fares at astronomical levels.

He said the GPRTU and the rest have attributed the
increase in fares to an accumulation of
an increase in prices of petroleum products and
other factors.

The NDC MP admits that government is not directly
responsible for the fixing of transport fares but
maintained that the previous NDC government was
blamed for similar increases and the NPP must take
the blame, too. 

Source - Myjoyonline.com

... go Back