The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) have cautioned that they will resist any attempt by the government to impose tax on house-keeping money, known in the local parlance as ‘chop money’, if it is introduced in the 2018 budget.
The government intends to introduce taxes on mobile money transactions by all the network operators in the country in the 2018 budget and economic policy with sole objective of mobilising enough resources internally for development projects.
But in the view of the minority, such a measure will hugely affect low income earners, especially those who receive their housekeeping money (chop money) via mobile money transactions.
Addressing stakeholders at a roundtable breakfast meeting in Accra on the 2018 Budget and Economic Policy of the government, the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, said “it is also regressive because compared to the relatively affluent non-core financial services that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) removed for the relatively rich, this insensitive [mobile money umbrella tax] will seriously affect millions of Ghanaians who use their telephones to transfer small amounts to relatives.”
The Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, will be presenting the 2018 budget statement and economic policy of the government on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on November 15, 2017, which is expected to focus on industrialisation, agriculture and consolidate gains made after almost a year in office.
There are strong indications that the government may push ahead with some fiscal reforms that could lead to further cuts in tax rates. Social intervention programmes such as free Senior High School and nurses training allowance would be maintained.
However, the Minority maintains that it is an indirect way of taxing transactions such as transfers of school fees and medical bills.
Mr Forson added that the NPP must provide some relief to low-income families from “chop money” transfer tax, as it is nothing more than a backdoor move to reintroduce the taxes they removed last year.
On the country’s debt, Mr Forson indicated that the national debt had ballooned alarmingly within 11 months that the Akufo- Addo government had been in charge of the country.
At the last reckoning, the public debt had increased from GH¢ 122.6 billion in January, 2017 to GH¢ 138.6 billion as of June and is set to increase to 150 billion by end of December 2017 due to recent developments.
Source: Daily Heritage
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ndc should come again .they dont really understand what the government means by taxing mobile money operators .all what it means is that what the telcos have taken from us ,the government is also going take from the profit and not we the customers . so ndc dont throw dust into our eyes
@JONATHAN LAGOS - Whether you like it or not NDC YA MUTU. When men of integrity and conscience are managing the country and the economy after what you guys did by ripping the country what are you guys saying? A group of men and women without shame! The people of Ghana are watching your action and in-actions now. The Krobos have already warned you. Other communities will soon follow. It is also unfortunate that your people the NDC parliamentarians have already organised a press conference on a budget that has not been read only because by protocol they have to be given copies before the Minister presents the budget! What a pity? What do you guys stand to gain in press conferences? Note that you cannot heal your incompetence, recalcitrance, arrogance, insulting nature, greedy bastardness, etc with press conferences!!!
The ndc is the reason Ghana is poor, after fleecing the country and raping her to the point of death, they will not ***barred word*** for those who are trying to rebuild this countey, didn't they tax condoms, hoes and cutlasses? Didn't they ray kayayeis to death, he and who will resist what,anyway I don't blamethem, people who should have been in jail by now are free and are seeing rub1sh.
This publication comes from monkeys from buabeng frema. The writer of the above comment has porridge in his head
Ohh!!!! Ghanaians ain't seen nothing yet. what's more nuisance than such a draconian tax regime which will end up in someone's pocket anyways? But its a choice they have made to '' try me and see'' As a vice eediot walked home with a cool 2.5 million dollars GPS scam, after lining a few pockets including the chief eediot, his boss. Now you are having an illegitimate avaricious b.AST.ard for finance minister who is also fleecing the nation with fraudulent bonds here and there with che.e.ky impunity. while his cousin the president pat his back and thump his chest like a jolly old chimp. And they are treating the people just as they deserved, by throwing them the crumbs of free shs while they enjoy the meaty parts. Ask which one of them will send their children to such pathetic schools. Then some phuulish few will glorify themselves with abject poverty and wish the oppressor well, when they will not even condescend to their levels.