Don’t use my tax to fund fraudulent deals - Manasseh hits hard at gov’t

Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni says he is not opposed to Ghanaians being slapped with taxes, what disgusts him is when those taxes are used to fund fraudulent deals.

According to him, his problem just like many Ghanaians is the wastage of the taxes at a time the Ghana Medical Association has warned that the health insurance system was collapsing and we might soon return to the cash and carry system because health facilities were not reimbursed.

In a post on his Facebook page, he said “My problem is when my NHIS levy is used to fund fraudulent deals. My problem is when my Communication Service Tax is used to pay Kelni-GVG. And my problem is when the government knows about these disturbing transactions and decides to look the other way”

Read the full text below;

At the close of Greater Works last night, I heard Pastor Mensa Otabil announce that there were 180 buses going to different parts of the city and that congregants were supposed to board for free. If a rich worshiper and contributor who is driving to Cantonments after the programme knows that whatever money he or she had paid would ensure that someone from Tema Manhean would go home comfortably, then his or her heart should rejoice that someone is touched in a positive way because of the offertory.

So are taxes. In principle, I am not against the tax increment. I have travelled a bit around the world, and I know that the countries we yearn to be like tax their citizens like hell. Ghana is almost a tax haven, especially for a majority of Ghanaians in the informal sector and the small and medium enterprises. Only a few people are burdened with the national tax load. So I’m not against the increment in taxes such as the Communication Service Tax. It’s not a nuisance tax like the luxury vehicles or condom tax.

My problem, which a lot of Ghanaians might share, however, is the wastage of the taxes. Just this week, the Ghana Medical Association has warned that the health insurance system was collapsing and we might soon return to the cash and carry system because health facilities were not reimbursed.

While debt is suffocating health facilities as a result of non-payment of NHIS claims, we recently learned that the Health Insurance Authority had paid Zoomlion GHc184 MILLION CEDIS for shady fumigation, which the company was already paid by all the assemblies and the local government ministry separately to undertake.

I don’t have a problem with paying the health insurance levy, which is a tax. I have a decent job and I can pay without feeling it. There are many Ghanaians who need healthcare but cannot afford it so if a fraction of my income is taken directly or indirectly to support them, I should be glad that I’m saving lives. So the taxes are not my problem.

My problem is when my NHIS levy is used to fund fraudulent deals. My problem is when my Communication Service Tax is used to pay Kelni-GVG. And my problem is when the government knows about these disturbing transactions and decides to look the other way.