WIDEN THE TAX NET – TUC BOSS URGES GOV’T

21-12-09 AB

WIDEN THE TAX NET – TUC BOSS URGES GOV’T

The General Secretary of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Kofi Asamoah is calling the government to widen the tax network to attract more revenue.

He explained that there are many people in the informal sector who do not pay taxes, but those in the formal sector are being charged huge tax from their meager salaries.

Mr. Asamoah noted that this invariably drain the pocket of the civil servant by making them living in impoverished lives.

The TUC General Secretary raised this issue when speaking on Edwaso Nsem with Ekourba Gyasi this morning.

Mr. Kofi Asamoah also tasked the government to create a congenial atmosphere for the private sector.

He explained that the tax system in the country does not favor the private sector thereby making it difficult for local companies to compete with foreign products.

Touching on the implementation of the Single Salary Spine Structure (SSSS), Mr. Kofi Asamoah said the union hopes that new system will ease the burden on civil servants because this year has being one of the toughest years for the union.

CUE IN: KOFAS3

Reacting to this, the Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr. Seth Tekpe attributed the current economic hardship to the high budget deficit the NDC government inherited from the erstwhile NPP government.

Mr. Tekpe said the Cedi has now stabilized and inflation rate has also gone down. He added the government has put in place mechanisms to improve and widen the tax net work in the country.

CUE IN: SETHTP

That was the Deputy Minister for Finance, Seth Tekpe

WIDEN TAX NETWORK- TUC BOSS URGES GOV'T

PUNISH SECURITY PERSONEL WHO MALTREAT CITIZENS

A Security Analyst, Emmanuel Sowatey has called for stiffer punishment for security personnel who are fond of maltreating citizens in conflict zones on the country.
He explained that the security whose duty is to protect lives and property fail to discharge their duties but turn to maltreat the citizens, this becomes unfortunate.
Mr. Emmanuel Sowatey said these in wake of recent alleged human rights abuse in conflict prone areas in the country.
It was reported that some military personnel who are on peace keeping mission at Nareligu in the Northern Region allegedly raped some teenagers in the area.
The Regional Police Commander ACP Awuni has described it as fabricated and a way to by the indigenes to redraw the security presence from the area.
Mr. Sowatey has therefore stated that the security should not hastily deny such report, but should do thorough investigation into the case before they come out with their verdict
He cited the Bawku naked incident the military did to some suspects. He added when the incident happened, the security came out denying the case, but a video tape has come out to prove the military wrong.
Mr. Emmanuel Sowatey said one cannot use force to maintain peace in a conflict zone and therefore called for stiffer punishment for culprits.
CUE IN: SOWATEY – PUNISH CULPRITS
That was Emmanuel Sowatey, Security Analyst.

NO SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR NDC SYMPATHIZERS

A Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Amakye Boateng has described numerous calls on President Mills that he rejected foot soldiers of the party as unjustifiable.
He explained that one joins a political party with his or her evolution, so the wellbeing of a party supporter should not be the sole responsibility of his government in power.
Mr. Amakye Boateng raised this issue in wake of recent calls by some ardent supporters of the NDC that there is lack of coordination between party members and government officials.
These party foot soldiers are blaming the presidency for neglecting them to their fate after struggling hard to bring the party back to power.
The Political Science Lecturer noted that the government is for all not only NDC supporters, so it is unlawful on the part of the presidency to spend state resources on party followers at the expense of the populace.
He argued that if this happens it will be captured as corruption.
CUE IN: AMAKYE – NO SPECIAL TREATMENT
Still on the NDC, the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has outlined the party preparedness towards their national congress which will be held in the Northern Region.
He said the party will hold three major congresses in all these include National Youth, Women’s and National congress.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah also said the party has opened filing of nomination for prospective positions in the party.
CUE IN: ASIEDU – CONGRESS PLAN
That was Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary of NDC.

DISPUTES IN NPP POLLING STATION ELECTIONS

Problems in NPP polling station elections still rages on. Blame game has now become the order of the day in the party as executive members accuse each other over divide and rule and tactics in the election of polling station executives.
The Bantama constituency in the Ashanti Region has had its share of the problems, and there are indications that the constituency may not take part in next month’s delegates’ congress.
As at now, the Bantama constituency has not hold its elections because the case has been taken to court. The term of office for the current executives have expired and new executives should be elected to replace the old executives.
One of the Polling Station stations Chairmen in the constituency, David Ghansah alleged that the immediate past chairman of the Constituency, Mr. Kokofu did not hold polling station elections, but did his own selection and that is why the matter has been taken to court by some concern members in the party.
David Ghansah made these remarks on Edwaso Nsem in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi this morning.
CUE IN: DAVVD – BANTAMA
The story is almost the same in the Tema West Constituency. One of the executives in the party, Kwabena Ampiah Biney claimed the MP has ganged up with some executives and formed her own executive album for the national delegates’ congress.
He stressed that this attitude will not help the party and as a result of that the other faction does not intend to desert the party, but will create another office to make two NPP offices in the Tema West Constituency.
Kwabena Ampiah Biney stressed that there will be parallel administration in the constituency and if this is what the NPP and her allies want to do in the constituency, he (Ampiah) and his faction will prove to the MP that they made the party won in this constituency.
CUE IN: KWBBM – TEMA WEST
Mr. Agyemang Kesse who is also vying for the constituency Chairman in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA), but has being disqualified by his chairman verbally said he will still contest the election no matter what the incumbent; Appiah Krong will do to manipulate the system.
He argued that he stands tall among the other contestants including Mr. Appiah Krong and that is why the Chairman wants to disqualify him.
CUE IN: AGYEKE – KEEA CONSTITUENCY
In Asuogyaman, the first vice-Chairman, Michael Fiifi Ayeh claimed the Regional Executives brought new delegates album after the constituency held its elections with their own album and this has generated a of controversy in the party.
Mr. Fiifi Ayeh argued that those who connived the regional executives to form a new album have been found and in due course will be dealt with.
CUE IN: MICFI – ASUOGYAMAN

NANA KONADU LASHES FORMER PREZ KUFUOR

The former first lady under the first NDC administration, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has lashed out on ex-president Kufuor for his attempts to collapse the 31st December Women’s Movement.
She explained that Mr. Kufuor’s efforts were thwarted based on the strong foundation the movement was established.
Mrs. Konadu Agyemang Rawlings raised this issue when addressing a mini rally organized by the movement at Kade in the Eastern Region.
She said Mr. Kufuor’s did not have matters of women at heart that is why he wanted to collapse the movement.

CUE IN: NANA KONADU – KOFUOR COULD NOT
She stressed that the 31st December Movement was established to empower women in all spheres of life to make them rob shoulders with their male counterparts.
In reaction to this, one of the stalwart in NPP who is also vying for General Secretary position, Kwame Owusu Afriyie alias ‘ Sir John is on the line to share more thought on this.

GOV’T JUSTIFIES TAX IMPOSITION ON FARM PRODUCTS

The government has justified its stand on tax imposition on rice and poultry products.
According to the Deputy Minister for Employment, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere the move will revamp the rice and poultry farming that has virtually collapsed in recent years.
He added that the tax imposition on these products will definitely increase the prices of the imported products thereby given opportunity cost to local production.
Mr. Antwi Boasiako Sekyere said these when speaking on Edwaso Nsem with Ekourba Gyasi this morning.
The NPP government waived taxes on rice and poultry products thereby reducing the import price of these products. This initiative did not go down well with local farmers as imported goods were cheaper than locally produced ones and gave such products high patronage.
The Deputy Employment and Social Welfare said the government will not pay lip service to the realization of commercial farming, but will make sure the country will have sufficient food to feed itself.
CUE IN: MANPP – EMPLOYMENT MINISTER
Mr. Antwi Boasiako Sekyere noted that what is important for the government is to create employment for the unemployed masses to go into agriculture, but not to boast of achieving high GDP which invariably does not put money into people’s pocket.
However, the Director of Communications for the NPP, Kwaku Kwarteng contended that achieving high GDP growth means creating more employment, because more people will be engage in employment.
He therefore stressed that there is all indication that the government cannot ferry the ship for a safe trip, and should call for help to manage the economy prudently.
CUE IN: KWKWW – NPP REACTION TO THE BUDGET
Adom Kasiebo also sampled views from the public to get their reaction of the yesterday’s budget statement.
CUE IN: SELLERS VIEWS ON BUDGET