According to him, the processes being undertaken by the government with regards to the policy may make the policy fail.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ha3erNoa4f7X3yipZ4mgTvrOLNzn3vVW”]He argued that, the government has not consulted broadly on the matter.

The Energy Ministry’s attempts to pass the policy have seen some opposition from the LPG Marketers Association of Ghana, who believe the move would collapse their businesses, and result in job losses.

But the government insists the move, which is to be implemented within a year, will be in the best interest of Ghanaians.

The Damongo legislator in a Citi News interview said although the policy is laudable, it must be opened up for scrutiny and proper analysis.

“The re-circulation policy is good, but it needs to be thought over tactfully. The main purpose of LPG is to reduce deforestation, which is important, but if this method is not properly implemented, it will increase cost.”

“If it increases cost, those in rural areas will prefer to use charcoal. So we shouldn’t reverse the achievement we have chalked over time. I thought the government would have taken the necessary steps by bringing out the measures, effects and cost implications for all of us to analyze,” he said.

Meanwhile, LPG marketers who suspended the sale of LPG products over this and many other directives intended to ensure safety and sanitize the sector, have resumed operations today [Friday].

Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, Gabriel Kumi, later said their decision to suspend operations nationwide, was to protest what they consider as unfair treatment by authorities.

Government’s directives in the wake of the Atomic Gas explosion that killed seven and injured 132 others, includes the shutdown of high-risk fuel stations, a cessation of all fuel stations under construction, and the implementation of the cylinder re-circulation policy within a year.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the government noticed the challenges most businesses suffer, and has taken the action to ensure that they do not collapse or remain stagnant,  but grow to augment government’s efforts in providing more jobs.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Obuasi West legislator discounted claims that the removal of some import duties will promote the influx of inferior goods into the country.

He noted that, the government has put in place efficient mechanisms to raise funds to finance all the policies and programmes it announced in the 2017 budget statement.

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta on the floor of Parliament on Thursday [March 2, 2017, announced about twelve taxes that have been abolished and a few others reviewed downwards.

Most of the taxes directly affect private businesses in sectors such as finance, real estate, trade, import and export.

He also announced the government’s commitment to roll out key programmes such as the one-district one-factory and one village one-dam this year.

Some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have cast doubt over about the ability of the government to achieve these programmes, but Mr Kwarteng says the government will realign its finances to achieve the desired results.

“The abolishing of special import duty on spare parts is designed to help businesses. If you want the businesses to grow, we need to remove their burden. All the tax removals that we have done, the stimulus package for industries that are dying, are all intended to boost our ability to produce and export. That will happen. We have rolled out these interventions and we are inviting the Ghanaian public to support us,” he said.

NPP’s 2017 budget is “deceptive and populist”

A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has described the 2017 budget statement and economic policy presented before parliament as deceptive and populist.

According to him, the budget does not fit into the country’s medium-term objectives and will lead the country into difficult times.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Tax cuts will boost local businesses – Kwaku Kwarteng appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The deceased have been identified as Emmanuel Kobinah, 4, and Merd Wash, 5, were pronounced dead at the Tarkwa Government Hospital.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Ayittey, the Divisional Commander in charge of Tarkwa, confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.

He said on Monday about 1530 hours it started raining when the deceased were about to leave the school premises for their homes.

ACP Ayittey said due to the poor wooden structures that serve as class rooms in the school the teachers assembled all the pupils at one corner to ensure their safety.

Emmanuel and Merd went behind a nearby wall to urinate and it collapsed on them.

Source: GNA

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