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We’ll uncover GH¢11 billion in concealed taxes in the 2024 budget – Ricketts-Hagan

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These include extending the zero rate of VAT on locally manufactured African prints for two (2) more years, waiving import duties on electric vehicles imported for public transport for an eight-year period, waiving import duties on semi-knocked down and completely knocked down electric vehicles imported by registered EV assembly companies in Ghana for an eight-year period, and extending the zero rate of VAT on locally assembled vehicles for two (2) more years.

George Ricketts-Hagan, Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast South, says the Minority caucus in Parliament would investigate the purported GH11 billion taxes buried in the government’s 2024 budget.

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, revealed eight tax reliefs the government aims to enact beginning next year when presenting the government’s 2024 budget in Parliament on Wednesday.

These include extending the zero rate of VAT on locally manufactured African prints for two (2) more years, waiving import duties on electric vehicles imported for public transport for an eight-year period, waiving import duties on semi-knocked down and completely knocked down electric vehicles imported by registered EV assembly companies in Ghana for an eight-year period, and extending the zero rate of VAT on locally assembled vehicles for two (2) more years.

Others included zero-rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads, duty waivers for raw materials used in the local manufacture of sanitary pads, exemptions from the importation of agricultural machinery equipment and inputs, medical consumables, raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, and a VAT flat rate of 5% to replace the standard VAT rate of 15% on all commercial properties, which will be implemented to simplify administration.

In an interview with Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Mr Ricketts-Hagan stated, “We know there’s GH11 billion in taxes [in the budget], but it’s concealed, so we’ll unravel it… We’ll unwrap it in a few days and reveal where they’ve been buried.”

“…They have been disguised, and that was the whole idea… So we have to open it up.”

However, the Deputy Trades Minister, Dr. Stephen Amoah, refuted such claims and urged the Cape Coast South MP and the Minority to focus on things such as the tax reliefs intended by the government to be implemented “rather than look for [non-existent] areas to criticize.”

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Ya Naa tells Bawumia to treat Mahama like his elder brother

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"It's a critical opportunity for us to demonstrate our maturity, competence, honesty, and commitment to Ghana's progress," Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said, adding, "You are my son, Dr. Bawumia, and your competitor, John Mahama, is also my son." You're both completely devoted to this election." The Overlord further emphasised that Dr. Bawumia and Mr. Mahama should see each other as siblings rather than adversaries. "He is not your enemy or rival, but your elder brother," Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said. "We have already won the elections as Northerners." Whoever wins this trophy will return home."

The Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II, has asked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to run a clean and respectful campaign ahead of the 2024 general elections.

During a courtesy call with Dr Bawumia, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II emphasised the necessity of sustaining national unity and peace, whatever of party allegiance.

He reminded Dr Bawumia that his opponent, former President John Dramani Mahama, is also a Dagboni son with similar goals for the country’s growth.

“It’s a critical opportunity for us to demonstrate our maturity, competence, honesty, and commitment to Ghana’s progress,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said, adding, “You are my son, Dr. Bawumia, and your competitor, John Mahama, is also my son.” You’re both completely devoted to this election.”

The Overlord further emphasised that Dr Bawumia and Mr Mahama should see each other as siblings rather than adversaries.

“He is not your enemy or rival, but your elder brother,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said. “We have already won the elections as Northerners.” Whoever wins this trophy will return home.”

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The economy is a disaster because Bawumia is ignorant – Sam George

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He suggested the '24hr Economy' concept when he met with leaders from the country's mother workers union on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as part of his outreach to key stakeholders in his attempt to reclaim power.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is clueless about handling the economy, according to Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George.

Unlike Dr. Bawumia, Sam Goege stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Former President John Dramani Mahama, is focused on how the economy would be managed.

“We have been inundated with questions of policy and policy initiatives.  John Dramani Mahama has been outlining flagship policy initiatives over the past weeks in public engagements.

“The other one, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has only one message – John Mahama! He is so pathetic and clueless in his engagements so far it explains to us all the reasons our economy under his leadership is in shambles. Bawumia is empty and spent.

“John Mahama has a clear vision and plan to #BuildTheGhanaWeWant. PS: I am open to a factual debate on the policies outlined so far. I’m uninterested in party bots seeking to earn their daily stipend,” he tweeted while reacting to the comment by Vice President Dr Bawumia to the effect that former President Mahama does not understand what it means to have a 24-hour economy.

Sam tweet

According to Dr. Bawumia, hospitals, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the Ghana Water Company, petrol stations, and numerous chop bars are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

He urged Ghanaians to oppose Mr Mahama’s proposal.

Addressing a throng in Nalerigu on Monday, November 20 as part of his ‘Thank you’ trip after being chosen NPP flagbearer on November 4, Dr Bawumia remarked, “John Mahama says he has a new idea.” What is the concept? He claims to desire a 24-hour economy. He’s not even aware of the policy.

Today, our hospitals operate 24 hours a day, our power company operates 24 hours a day, our water company operates 24 hours a day, our gasoline stations operate 24 hours a day, and many chop bars operate 24 hours a day. Because of digitization, you may now transmit and receive money 24 hours a day, seven days a week… As a result, he doesn’t grasp his own policies. It makes no sense.

“So I want you to vote for me in 2024 because I will bring a new vision, I will bring a new policy. Mahama is the past, and Dr Bawumia is the future. If John Mahama was there, we would say we have a dumsor economy, you can’t have a 24-hour economy in dumsor. So, you want to vote for Dr Bawumia in 2024, we will take the country to new heights,” Dr Bawumia stated.

Mr Mahama stated that the 24-hour economy will provide work for all Ghanaians.

“The 24-hour economy I proposed is for jobs and more jobs,” the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stressed.

He suggested the ’24hr Economy’ concept when he met with leaders from the country’s mother workers union on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as part of his outreach to key stakeholders in his attempt to reclaim power.

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Mahama urges government to pay allowances owed nursing trainees

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“Let the allowance come. Wherever you are, Krobo Nursing Trainees are begging you to let their allowance come,” John Mahama appealed.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, wants the government to settle all arrears due to nursing trainees across the country as soon as possible.

According to John Mahama, such delays generate unneeded hardship for pupils.

Mr Mahama says the government must honour its pledge to pay nursing trainee allowances to students at the Krobo Nursing Training School in the Bono Region as part of his trip.

“Nana Akufo-Addo and Bawumia have stated that they will pay the allowances.” I ask you, Nana Addo and Bawumia, if you can hear me, we here at Krobo Nursing Training School, claim you haven’t paid their allowances for two years now.”

“Let the allowance come. Wherever you are, Krobo Nursing Trainees are begging you to let their allowance come,” John Mahama appealed.

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