Your programmes and policies only favour the rich – Ato Forson to NPP

Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has said programmes and policies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government are geared towards further enriching the wealthy while rendering the poor poorer.

According to him, this is seen in the recent reduction in air fares while road transport fares have increased.

Parliament, last Friday, passed the Appropriation Bill, which saw parliament scrap the 17.5 per cent VAT on domestic air tickets.

Meanwhile, road transport fares will see a 15% increase across the country, beginning Thursday April 6, 2017, the Road Transport Operators has announced.

In a release dated Monday April 3, 2017, the group said: “In line with the Administrative Instrument on public transport fares, the Road Transport Operators have reviewed the prices of the various elements that go into running of commercial transport services and have increased transport fares by 15%. The Road Transport Operators have therefore issued new road transport fares.

Speaking in interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday April 4, Mr Forson, said: “I told Ghanaians not to be deceived by what the NPP said about the tax cut because that decision was populist and deceptive, that even if they scrapped those taxes, it would not bring any result to Ghanaians.

“The taxes on spare parts they claimed they will remove, they have not been able to do so. If you are not ready to remove the taxes, why do you hastily announce to Ghanaians that you are going to implement that policy?

“Now they have reduced air fares and increased [road] transport fares. Ask yourselves how many ordinary Ghanaians travel by air. And so what have you done? You have not done anything? I think their priorities are wrong, their kind of economics is economics for the rich – enriching the rich and making the poor poorer. So where are we now as a country, is this the kind of change Ghanaians wanted?"