Mahama scraps import duty waiver for health workers

Read Comments Comments (38)

• Rubbish 10 years ago

  It has to be scrapped. Good show. Actually that of the Doctors must also go. That privilege is being abused by many turning themselves into car sellers and contractors to dodge tax.
  
  After all these incentives they are stil ...
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  It has to be scrapped. Good show. Actually that of the Doctors must also go. That privilege is being abused by many turning themselves into car sellers and contractors to dodge tax.
  
  After all these incentives they are still greedy and keep going on strike every now and then.
  
  Yes and that can go towards part of the silly pay increase they want. What do you say Dr Laughing Stone Sirebour?

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• OSBON 10 years ago

  Port and Airport. The only place this government is milking Ghanaians. New visitor Visa fees. New Airport Taxes, How do this people think Ghana can move forward. What happen to all this money. Laptops for the media which they ...
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  Port and Airport. The only place this government is milking Ghanaians. New visitor Visa fees. New Airport Taxes, How do this people think Ghana can move forward. What happen to all this money. Laptops for the media which they don't ask for. Ghana has gone to the dogs

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• MAHAMA, ATUGUBA & TONY LITHUR 10 years ago

  NORTHNERS AND THE EWES ARE NOW SELLING GHANA FOR A "APPLE AND EGG"
  
  NDC FOOOO-OOOOLS !!!

  NORTHNERS AND THE EWES ARE NOW SELLING GHANA FOR A "APPLE AND EGG"
  
  NDC FOOOO-OOOOLS !!!

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• Y B££KO 10 years ago

  All the money goes into the pockets of custom officers.
  It should be made illegal to be seen with any CASH at the ports.

  All the money goes into the pockets of custom officers.
  It should be made illegal to be seen with any CASH at the ports.

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• nana uk 10 years ago

  sometimes people comment om issues without even reading the article or it is because some of us, our level of education is soo poor that we cannot read and understand, how can a custom officer take bribe from someone who has ...
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  sometimes people comment om issues without even reading the article or it is because some of us, our level of education is soo poor that we cannot read and understand, how can a custom officer take bribe from someone who has being exemted from paying import duty. m'not a cumtom officer but one will ask why should i give a bribed for something that the money involved is not much, because the import duty when exemted, the rest of the duties is small.so why i pay a bribed.

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• Concerned Ghanaman 10 years ago

  This is not on the issue of the health workers,i understand where nana uk is commenting on. He means other transactions at the port.

  This is not on the issue of the health workers,i understand where nana uk is commenting on. He means other transactions at the port.

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• DAN 10 years ago

  just like a homosexual, fuck you in the ass while your down..Yes import duties should be low..they are no cars or trucks produced in ghana so import duties only protect Toyota of Ghana and African motors by allowing them to s ...
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  just like a homosexual, fuck you in the ass while your down..Yes import duties should be low..they are no cars or trucks produced in ghana so import duties only protect Toyota of Ghana and African motors by allowing them to sell at high prices compared to dealers in usa..my 2013 gmc pickup with single cab and v-6 engine only cost $23,000 ($366 per month for 6 years)

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• Y B££KO 10 years ago

  LISTEN the reason is that there is generally reduced inflow of income . and what causes that??? some thinking ???? any ideas???Some talking about levels of education.

  LISTEN the reason is that there is generally reduced inflow of income . and what causes that??? some thinking ???? any ideas???Some talking about levels of education.

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• AKONFEM JDM ATOPAHENE 10 years ago

  HMMMM CORRUPT MAHAMA IS JUST USELESS

  HMMMM CORRUPT MAHAMA IS JUST USELESS

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• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
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  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

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• Kwame K 10 years ago

  The Ghana Government thinks the only way to steal from Ghanaians abroad is high import duties. This is a form of corruption. Total Taxes on cars should have been as low as 5%.

  The Ghana Government thinks the only way to steal from Ghanaians abroad is high import duties. This is a form of corruption. Total Taxes on cars should have been as low as 5%.

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• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
  read full comment

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

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• abuzzo 10 years ago

  IF MAHAMA HAD BRAIN HE WOULD REDUCE CUSTOM FEES AND CUNCELL OTHER HIGH FEES SO
  MORE IMPORTS WILL COME TO GHANA WHICH WILL CREATE MORE IMPORT JOBS AND FLOOD THE MARKET WITH GOODS SO PRICES WILL GO DOWN AND MOST GHANA PEOPL ...
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  IF MAHAMA HAD BRAIN HE WOULD REDUCE CUSTOM FEES AND CUNCELL OTHER HIGH FEES SO
  MORE IMPORTS WILL COME TO GHANA WHICH WILL CREATE MORE IMPORT JOBS AND FLOOD THE MARKET WITH GOODS SO PRICES WILL GO DOWN AND MOST GHANA PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO BUY AND AFFORD THINGS.
  LOW IMPORT JOBS FEES &CUSTOM FEES
  = JOB CREATION AND PROSPERETY

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• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
  read full comment

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

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• Concerned 10 years ago

  The gov needs to record every activity at the ports so that everything a custom official says or does can be recorded and reviewed by officials in another region with a bonus scheme for detecting dubious deals. We do have sol ...
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  The gov needs to record every activity at the ports so that everything a custom official says or does can be recorded and reviewed by officials in another region with a bonus scheme for detecting dubious deals. We do have solutions to most our problems but we dont have intelligent people running affairs. Just look at the current president,the one b4 was probably the most stupid professor in the world. Then we have ministers like aboakwa,vikileaks and kobby achaempong. We cant even run a chop bar will their talent let alone a country.When it comes to shame and integrity,these guys have no clue what it means.

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• Kwame K 10 years ago

  The Ghana Government thinks the only way to steal from Ghanaians abroad is high import duties. This is a form of corruption. Total Taxes on cars should have been as low as 5%.

  The Ghana Government thinks the only way to steal from Ghanaians abroad is high import duties. This is a form of corruption. Total Taxes on cars should have been as low as 5%.

  reply
• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
  read full comment

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

  reply
• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
  read full comment

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

  reply
• Joe Turkey 10 years ago

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pocket ...
  read full comment

  The biggest reason for the shortfall is NDC thievery and the corruptness of Custom officials at the ports. For every vehicle imported into the country, 10 to 15 percent of monies paid at the ports goes into the private pockets of Customs officials. Atta Mills attempted a shot at this practice to no avail. And if there was such a big shortfall of revenues (which warrants a cut in spending by economic and commonsense premise), how come Ghana sent 13 men and women -- all flying business class - to just watch a World Cup draw from their hotel rooms? This type of waste is in every department and Ministry.

  reply
• Tetteh Nubuor 10 years ago

  It is no surprise that the economy is experiencing a shortfall in revenue. When taxes are high Mr. Finance minister, businesses turn to wait for the right opportunity to make a move due to uncertainty. The tax base has shrunk ...
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  It is no surprise that the economy is experiencing a shortfall in revenue. When taxes are high Mr. Finance minister, businesses turn to wait for the right opportunity to make a move due to uncertainty. The tax base has shrunk because taxes are too damn high. People are forced to cut down on their economic activities and as result its strangling the entire nation. Many Ghanaians abroad have stopped exporting or sending items to their love ones home because of the high demand of bribery and excise taxes at the various ports of entry. Another example is the talk tax just re-implimented compels people to make short phone calls to avoid paying so much taxes. When the tax rate is lowered economic activities will be stimulated and that will force movers and shakers to stir economic activities to spark growth.
  The high taxes doesn't make any sense because we don't even have any relevant industry that we are protecting, so why the high taxes? If it is a World Bank or IMF policy then I think it is not helping us and need to be scrapped before we go off the cliff.

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• Tetteh Nubuor 10 years ago

  The waiver shouldn't go away. A simple solution is that who ever gets the waiver would have his or her name on the vehicle title period. This method would result in fights at the courts and people can go to jail for that beca ...
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  The waiver shouldn't go away. A simple solution is that who ever gets the waiver would have his or her name on the vehicle title period. This method would result in fights at the courts and people can go to jail for that because of ownership problems. Plus this is where sales tax comes in when a beneficiary decides to sell the vehicle. He or she would have to pay the waiver tax in retrospect in terms of sales tax. Period. We should know the name on the vehicle title is the supposedly the beneficiary of the waiver. No sales tax to the IRS for Tax Clearance Certificate, No title to be able to re-register the vehicle in the new owner's name. Its as simple as ABCD.

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• Ghanababa 10 years ago

  Hello Sir, If i am a woman, i will give you a free full night! with condom though!..... This is my problem, Politics has taken over our thinking ability! Put politics aside, Ghanaians can solve their own ploblems! Is so sad p ...
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  Hello Sir, If i am a woman, i will give you a free full night! with condom though!..... This is my problem, Politics has taken over our thinking ability! Put politics aside, Ghanaians can solve their own ploblems! Is so sad people use their time to engage politics than to think or "fools" got hold of internet? If you stand for any public office i will support you hands down. well done for thinking for us. I couldnt have said it better!

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• zola 10 years ago

  NO IS AS STUPID AS THAT. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SELL THE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING CLEARED FROM THE PORT.

  NO IS AS STUPID AS THAT. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SELL THE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING CLEARED FROM THE PORT.

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• Concerned 10 years ago

  This government does not use it's head.how much revenue will come in as a result of this change in policy.Any employer which does not see the importance of motivating it's staff clearly is not upto the job.Why is God punishin ...
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  This government does not use it's head.how much revenue will come in as a result of this change in policy.Any employer which does not see the importance of motivating it's staff clearly is not upto the job.Why is God punishing all Ghanaians with the ndc.

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• Ghanababa 10 years ago

  You are ignorant! Health workers have taken the opportunity to sell their concession to car dealers. 3 months ago, a close friend of mine bought a lady nurse's concession for GHC 1,200. All we know is attacking Governments, w ...
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  You are ignorant! Health workers have taken the opportunity to sell their concession to car dealers. 3 months ago, a close friend of mine bought a lady nurse's concession for GHC 1,200. All we know is attacking Governments, we should start attacking ourselves!

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• Nana K 10 years ago

  The ugly minister highjacked the system way back.

  The ugly minister highjacked the system way back.

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• TEMA BOYY 10 years ago

  After the beneficts that Mahama got from free things,he is here scraping free things from people.This is a heartless president.how does he wants this health workers to react to emergencies and all that.Those in the sector sho ...
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  After the beneficts that Mahama got from free things,he is here scraping free things from people.This is a heartless president.how does he wants this health workers to react to emergencies and all that.Those in the sector should hit the streets and not wait for any one.These all are signs that he never won the elections free and fairly.You are a disgrace to mankind and i think you should resign cos there are better ways to raise revenue for national development and this is not by taking away peoples beneficts and all that.God will ask you for are the hardship you are bringing upon the people of Ghana.TEMA CENTRAL-NANA ADDO 2016.

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• Lawrence 10 years ago

  it is okay to take the waiver off because most of the health workers are using the waiver for thier own business. It is been abused.Please don't conclude when such decisions are taken by Government. Development depends on Tax ...
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  it is okay to take the waiver off because most of the health workers are using the waiver for thier own business. It is been abused.Please don't conclude when such decisions are taken by Government. Development depends on Tax.

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• PLUMBER 10 years ago

  Why should the Govt not stop a system that promotes unethical practices? The objective was to assist Health workers to possess their means of transport and be able to respond to emergencies on time. But what do we see? These ...
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  Why should the Govt not stop a system that promotes unethical practices? The objective was to assist Health workers to possess their means of transport and be able to respond to emergencies on time. But what do we see? These same workers are prepared to sacrice the lives of patients thru strikes. On top they re-sell these vehicles and pocket the profit thus depriving Govt of revenue that would have accrued to the state. Which country can stomach this unbriddled greed? No group of workers in Ghana are sacrificing more than others, so if a privilge is being abused, it has to be withdrawn.

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• Larry 10 years ago

  Kufuor really UNDERSTOOD GOVERNANCE. I think he also was blessed with a bank of ideas to show the right initiative to confront national challenges as they arise. He had his weaknesses but comparatively i think he did well.
  ...
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  Kufuor really UNDERSTOOD GOVERNANCE. I think he also was blessed with a bank of ideas to show the right initiative to confront national challenges as they arise. He had his weaknesses but comparatively i think he did well.
  
  I will suggest this incentive to our doctors is not scrapped but maintained to motivate them to work on our shores.
  
  If you take the mining list (can be obtained from the Chamber of Mines), there are heavy mining equipment that are imported into the country DUTY FREE. This is one of government's initiative to encourage foreign investment in the mining sector. IF WE CAN DO THIS FOR THE WHITES, WHO WILL BRING IN THEIR HEAVY MACHINES DUTY FREE, AND MINE OUR OWN MINERALS AND TAKE ALL AWAY LEAVING ONLY 10% FOR GHANAIANS, WHY CAN'T WE DO IT FOR OUR OWN DOCTORS.
  
  I think there are some other economic measures we can take to boost national revenue rather than touching on this incentive to our doctors.

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• abuzzo 10 years ago

  IS AT 'WORK' DESTROYING GHANA AS HE GOS ALONG

  IS AT 'WORK' DESTROYING GHANA AS HE GOS ALONG

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• yaw bronx ny 10 years ago

  MAHAMA IS A USELESS MAN AND HE IS MAKING THE ECONOMY WORST... WHY? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

  MAHAMA IS A USELESS MAN AND HE IS MAKING THE ECONOMY WORST... WHY? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

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• Lord Tennison 10 years ago

  Why don't you increase import duties on the cheap Chinese imports which are killing our infant industries instead?
  I seize this chance to draw the attention of Ghanaians to what i term the" Chinese Menace".(a)Dump cheap and ...
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  Why don't you increase import duties on the cheap Chinese imports which are killing our infant industries instead?
  I seize this chance to draw the attention of Ghanaians to what i term the" Chinese Menace".(a)Dump cheap and ephemeral Chinese imports to attract local demand and kill local industries.(b)Lend the consequent trade surplus to the host country.(c)Make the host country dependent upon the Chinese so they cannot be criticized for their poor human rights record.The Chinese are over anxious to win Africa to their side by hook or crook.They did not build the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa for free without an obscured agenda.
  Does this Mahama guy know what he is doing?As Vice President he brokered a deal with Cuba to train some 250 Ghanaian students as medical doctors.Apparently,Prof Mills(R.I.P) was concerned about the Doctor/Patient radio of 100,000 Ghanaians/15 Doctors(about 6600 patients/doctor. Since it takes a minimum of six years to train a doctor,in the interim,we can improve the ratio a little through better conditions of service(salary,allowance and incentive to retain those at home and to attract those abroad who want to come home to practice medicine.Is this withdrawal of the import duty waiver a retaliation against the Ghana Medical Association for embarking on a strike action?
  John Mahama is full of contradictions.
  (1).He expresses anxiety over brain drain at Kennessaw State University and,a few days later,throws his weight behind Nunoo Mensah for given a clarion call to join the brain drain train.(2)He brokers a deal with Cuba for the training of more medical doctors as vice president and makes an about turn as president to withdraw duty waiver supposedly put in place to attract more doctors to come home and to motivate those at home to hang on.(3)He talks about local content but brings in Cuban medical doctors to put a strain on our scarce foreign exchange earnings(they will have to transfer some money to Cuba one day.
  He has a short memory,it seems to me.
  What has he been smoking?

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• AY3 HUHUUHU 10 years ago

  Hmmm, Mahama abre! Ghanafo) nso kasa!!!

  Hmmm, Mahama abre! Ghanafo) nso kasa!!!

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• nana 10 years ago

  There are a lot of questions on my mind with regards to this waiver thing. From the article the waiver is not only for health workers. The ministers health and finance have to tell us what percentage of all vehicle imports wi ...
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  There are a lot of questions on my mind with regards to this waiver thing. From the article the waiver is not only for health workers. The ministers health and finance have to tell us what percentage of all vehicle imports with 2000cc or less that came into the country were under the waiver program. The finance minister has to tell us how this has contributed to revenue shortfall. The minister of health and for that matter the other ministries should let us know what percentage of health workers actually used the waiver program. We have to understand that not all health workers are eligible for this waiver so please minister of finance furnish us the reading public with better particulars!! We are taking too many uninformed actions in Ghana!!

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• Emma 10 years ago

  and so what? ceps are the cost of the low income the govt accrue from the harbours. what sort of democratic governance is this? are the ministers not enjoying incentives? Do they pay water and light bills? this is the light ...
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  and so what? ceps are the cost of the low income the govt accrue from the harbours. what sort of democratic governance is this? are the ministers not enjoying incentives? Do they pay water and light bills? this is the light robbery. robbing peter to pay Paul.

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• Paa 10 years ago

  This man has no clue how to rule the nation. I hope this will revamp the revenue. Seek better ideas than this.

  This man has no clue how to rule the nation. I hope this will revamp the revenue. Seek better ideas than this.

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• DOORS 10 years ago

  FROM THE LOOK OF THINGS EVERYTHING INDICATE THAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS HOPELESS AND USELESS, CONFUSE AND LACK THE SPIRIT,DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD HENCE BEHAVING IMPULSIVELY LIKE AN AUTISTIC CHILD.TRULY JOHN DRAM ...
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  FROM THE LOOK OF THINGS EVERYTHING INDICATE THAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS HOPELESS AND USELESS, CONFUSE AND LACK THE SPIRIT,DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD HENCE BEHAVING IMPULSIVELY LIKE AN AUTISTIC CHILD.TRULY JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA IS INDEED CONFUSE AND THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITE EVER EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY.GOD IS WATCHING.THE WICKED SHALL NEVER GO UNPUNISHED.GOD SAVE GHANA.

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