CSO calls on gov’t to increase levies on alcoholic beverage

The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society organisation (CSOs), has called on the government to diversify the funding streams of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

According to NORPRA this could be done by increasing levies on alcoholic beverages in northern Ghana.

A release issued and by Mr Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, Director of NORPRA, and copied to the GNA in Bolgatanga, said introducing such levies would help rake in some appreciable level of levies to supplement the funding of SADA activities as well as the regional development strategies initiated in the regional coordinating councils in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

It said, to get the full support of every Ghanaian for the increased levies on alcoholic beverages, government must first enforce section 18 of the SADA Law, which enjoins it to make annual budgetary allocations and also to introduce levies on non-petroleum imports into the country.

NORPRA also urged government to, without further delay, release the 2013 and 2014 budget allocations to SADA.