The aggrieved traders, mostly women accused the District Assembly of failing to renovate the deplorable market despite being a major source of revenue for the Assembly.

According to the women, authorities have remained insensitive to their plights despite calls to provide the market basic amenities such befitting stalls and sanitary facilities.

“It becomes difficult to move about in the market when it rains, flooding most parts of it. A very serious side of it is where the yam sellers would have to incur double cost in getting their stuff to their side of the market. Sanitation is an important part of the struggle. Food brought to the market sometimes gets infested in the market due to the poor sanitation and waste management in the market. It will interest you to know that the market plays hosts to Zoomlion’s waste containers that the whole town uses. Refuse is dumped all around the containers attracting flies and unpleasant smell within that area” they lamented.

Aside health and sanitation challenges, the traders also expressed fears over their security as the market has become a home to criminals.

“The place has also become a refuse dump, a smoking haven and a public place of convenience. All of these put us at the mercy of wee smokers and poor health”

At the press conference today[Tuesday] to register their displeasure, the spokesperson for the market women, Madam Delight Ayoyo blamed their worsening case on the absence of a District Chief Executive for the area whose confirmation  has been delayed by what she described as a noted stereotype against women aspiring for higher positions in the area.

She recounted how stakeholders have over the years suppressed dreams of women who aspire to occupy the office of the DCE.

“We are practically angered at how the district, since its inception, has been blended with gender discrimination against women. The first District Chief Executive nominee in 2004 was first rejected and was only accepted by the intervention of people from all walks of life. Again, the DCE nominee in 2009 during the Atta Mills administration was out rightly rejected. Afterwards, a man being nominated, Mr Bekui, was accepted in both 2009 and 2013 without any problems just because he was a male DCE nominee. A female has been nominated once again and here we are, seeing another rejection”.

The women are however insisting the district assembly leaves the collection of market tolls to them so they rather account to the assembly at the end of every market day and be involved in the efficient use of the funds.

Citi News tour of the market revealed the deplorable nature of the market with temporary stalls and palm frond sheds built by the women.  The women have since been in red armbands and scarves to drum home their displeasure.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kpeve market women protest against ‘killer’ tolls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the move is not fair especially since truck pushers, sachet water sellers among other hawkers also pay similar tolls.

The Former Minister while speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, clarified that although he was not against the ‘kayayei’ toll exemption, he thinks “they [kayayei] are not the only category [of potters] and you [Finance Minister] may be using discriminatory tax approach.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”UiW90DBjruSk0cs9j0w395SAHLHVHgWv”]The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, while presenting the 2017 budget statement to Parliament on Thursday, disclosed that government had scrapped some taxes including the kayayei market tolls.

He also announced the downward review of some taxes and levies government considered as “nuisance.”

But Mr. Terkper, told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show that government must extend the tax relief package to cover other potters as well.

“Is it just Kayayei or does it also cover truck pushers or if you go to the north does it cover those who are riding motorbikes, tricycles which is a form of portage? So Kayayei is just one form of portage. Is the minister saying that all these are going to be eliminated or is just the use of kayayei to gain some sympathy?”

The Former Minister added that, “There are those who carry sachet water [on their heads] and risk their lives. Many of these are compelled to pay tolls because if you go to many district assemblies, market tolls are their main source of IGF [internally generated funds], apart from the district assembly common fund. So is the central government going to provide further support at a time we are also being told that the assemblies’ common fund is going to be paved for purposes of the [free] SHS?. Are you going to look at the category of all those who are in all that group and come up with a package for them or just something catchy to gain applause,” Mr. Terkper asked.

List of taxes abolished/reviewed

Below is the list of taxes either scrapped or reviewed downwards by the Akufo-Addo government.

– The 1% Special Import Levy

– Kayayei market tolls

– 17.5% VAT/NHIL on financial services

– 17.5% VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines that are not produced locally

– 17.5% VAT/NHIL on domestic airline tickets

– Duty on imported spare parts

– 5% VAT/NHIL on Real estate sales

– Exercise duty on petroleum List of reviewed taxes

– Corporate income tax to be progressively reduced from 25% to 20% in 2018.

– Replace 17.5% of VAT/NHIL with 3% flat rate for traders

– Tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire young graduates from tertiary institutions

– Tax incentives for young entrepreneurs

– Reduce special petroleum tax rate from 17.5% to 15%.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Scrapping Kayayei toll ‘discriminatory’ – Terkper appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.