Highlights of budget EXPECTATIONS

The following are highlights of the expectations of this year's budget:

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI):

* Reduction or elimination of some of the taxes (Corporate income tax, ECOWAS Levy, EDIF Levy, NRL Levy, Inspection Fee and Processing fee to make local industries competitive.)

* Impose special tax on importation of cheap steel products in order to help grow local steel mills. (Ghana currently has the lowest import duty -1 0.0 per cent - on iron rods.)

* Reduce the 140 per cent excise duty on locally manufactured cigarettes.

* Zero rating for agricultural and pharmaceutical products.

* Review Tax Law Regulations LI 1675 which defines withholding tax rates for companies.

* Sustain micro-economic discipline.

*Provide adequate funding for agriculture and ensure that private sector activities

are enhanced to meet the growing aspirations of Ghanaians.

*Increase funding for agriculture, education and infrastructure development

*Use budget to provide a clear set of economic stimuli and further tax incentives for businesses to ensure available long-term funds for planning.

* Maintain VAT at 12.5 per cent

* Increase support for small-scale businesses through NBSSI and affiliate institutions

* 2002 budget should sustain microeconomic discipline.

* Growth of economy should be the main focus.

* Increase revenue generation to help balance government spending.

* Stick to strict fiscal discipline.

* Address debt overhang for Ghanaian companies.

* Transparent divestitures.

* Intensify efforts to reduce inflation to below the current 23.5 per cent.

* Increase budget allocation for education and agriculture.

* Maintain microeconomic discipline.

* Government should spend what it has.

* Increase revenue collection base.