Member Of Parliament On Why Minority Group Kicked Against VAT

Aframso (Ashanti Region), 5 Sept., Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Nsuta Kwamang in Ashanti, has said that the minority group in parliament objected to the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) because it is not the best antidote to the economic problems of the country. He said the proposed 15 per cent VAT is too high and would be a burden on the already poverty-stricken ordinary Ghanaian. Mr. Prempeh, an NPP Member of Parliament was addressing his constituents at Aframso during his two weeks tour to brief them on activities in parliament and to get to know their problems. He said instead of VAT, the government should have concrete and pragmatic economic policies and programmes to revamp the economy while ensuring that waste, corruption and the high rate of government expenditure are checked. He called on the people to take advantage of the government's rural electrification programme to embark on small-scale economic ventures, adding that students should make use of it to improve their academic performance. The MP urged parents to take greater interest in the education of their children to check falling educational standards in the constituency. The people expressed concern about lack of teachers and educational materials in both the primary and junior secondary schools and urged the MP to help address these. Mr. Prempeh visited 32 towns and villages including Nsuta, Kwamang, Atonsu, Birem, Aframso, Kyeiase, Kyekyebon and Domi.