The Minority in Parliament has firmly opposed the government’s proposal to grant over $300 million in tax waivers to companies under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, speaking on the Floor of Parliament on Monday, December 16, expressed concerns about the fiscal implications of these waivers, particularly as Ghana faces economic challenges.
Ablakwa argued that approving the waivers would exacerbate the country’s financial struggles, burdening the incoming administration, which has promised to abolish “nuisance taxes” to alleviate economic pressure on citizens.
“A tall list of over 40 tax waivers, Mr Speaker, and this will have serious fiscal implications for the next government. I mean, why do you want to saddle the next government with these huge revenue losses when you have been roundly rejected at the polls?” Ablakwa questioned.
Minority’s Stand
The Minority maintains that the proposed waivers will result in significant revenue losses at a time when the nation’s finances are already strained. Ablakwa warned that approving such concessions would hinder the ability of the incoming government to address the fiscal imbalances.
“This is a government talking about coming to cut down obnoxious and nuisance taxes, and then you are creating more fiscal liabilities for us. So, Mr. Speaker, we want to serve notice that these tax waivers, we are not going to support them.”
The Minority’s rejection signals a strong stance against policies they believe could undermine Ghana’s economic stability, as they prioritize restoring financial discipline and alleviating hardships on citizens.
About The Author
