VALUE ADDED TAX EDUCATION LAUNCHED

The Vice President, Prof. John Atta Mills, says the re-introduction of the Value Added TAX is an effort at building a better Ghana and not an attempt to score political points. He, therefore, urged all Ghanaians to accept VAT, because its advantages are real and practical. Prof. Mills was launching the VAT Public Education Campaign in Accra on 11, November. He stressed the importance of understanding what VAT is about in order to appreciate it. The Minister of Communications, Mr.. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, who is also Chairman of the Public Education Campaign Committee, said the aim of the campaign is to give VAT a humane face. He said it will also raise public awareness and allow the benefits of VAT to be known to ensure the desire for its implementation. Mr. Spio-Garbrah, however, said VAT will not be implemented until the government is satisfied that the people understand it and are ready for it. The Minister of Finance, Mr.. Kwame Peprah, who chaired the function, urged the public to make their view on VAT known to Parliament when the time comes. He said the initial introduction of VAT was derailed, because it was above the appreciation of the average person. The current campaign strategy is, therefore, to forestall what happened in 1995. End