Ghana Not Ready For Value Added Tax.- Osafo-Maafo

Akim Oda, ( Eastern Region) 18 - Sept.

Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, MP for Akim Oda, has said that even though the New Patriotic Party acknowledges that the Value Added Tax (VAT) is an efficient tax system, Ghana as at now, is not ready to implement the system. Mr. Osafo-Maafo who was speaking at a symposium on Ghana's economy organised by his constituency branch of the NPP at Akim Oda, said introduction of the VAT will bring confusion. He said Ghana, unlike other countries does not have efficient book-keeping system adding that ''VAT will bring corruption because of lapses in our book-keeping system''. Mr. Osafo-Maafo observed that since Ghana's economy is such that manufactured goods pass through several hands before reaching the consumer, the introduction of the new tax system will only bring about high prices of goods. He urged the government to address the problem of smuggling at the country's entry points for the much expected revenue to be realised at all times. Dr. Kofi Apraku, MP for Offinso North, spoke on unemployment, high medical and school fees, mounting cost of living and appealed to Ghanaians to vote the party into power in the next general elections saying that it is only the NPP which can address these problems. Dr. Apraku condemned the recent increases in the tariffs of some utility services and asked whether ministers of state will ever pay electricity bills. Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy, called on the government to relate electricity bills to wages and salaries. He urged the government to back its rural electrification programmes with job opportunities to enable the rural dwellers to be able to pay for utility bills. Mr. S.K. Boafo, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Subin, criticized the government's privatisation policy and asked the executive to account for the proceeds from the divested assets. He said the NPP is the only party capable of managing the affairs of the country and appealed to the party's top hierarchy to put ''their house in order'' to be able to win the next general elections. Other speakers were: Mrs. Gladys Asmah, MP for Takoradi, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Greater Accra regional chairman of the NPP, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the Alliance for Change and Mr. Iddi Seini, MP for Wulensi.