Scrap the ‘borla’ taxes and save Ghanaians from the economic difficulties – Sammy Gyamfi
Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has asked the government to consider removing some taxes he considered ‘needless’ on petroleum products to aid fuel price reduction.
Mr Gyamfi noted that “taxes, including 10 pesewas Sanitation and Pollution tax, BOST Margin, Special Petroleum Tax, are not needed at the moment”.
The opposition party National communication officer in an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, observed that “Some of the taxes don’t make sense. In this time of economic difficulty we should not be paying a 10 pesewas sanitation and pollution, I call it ‘borla’ levy, on a litre of diesel and petrol, we don’t need a BOST margin of 9 pesewas”.
He said “Most of these taxes, 80 to 90 per cent of these taxes are not needed now. Special Petroleum Tax, former President Mahama introduced it at the time the international market price was going down. We said we were going to collect it for just two years and when the international market prices go up, we will bring it back.
Recounting the previous global market price rate, Mr Gyamfi argued that “At the time the international market price had gone down below 30 dollars and so we were losing in terms of our oil exports. Now, the prices have gone up to about 100 and 120 dollars per barrel when this year 2022, we benchmarked it at 61 dollars per barrel. if we are to scrap these taxes, I tell you, that the litre of diesel and petrol will come down by a minimum GH¢1.”
Already, the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) also made similar calls to the government asking for fuel prices reduction citing high standards of living.
Dr Yaw Baah the Secretary-General of the Union on Monday, March 21, 2022, noted that “many workers, particularly those on fixed salaries, are being pushed below the poverty line by the recent developments”.
The situation according to Dr Yaw Baah “must be addressed without further delay, otherwise many more Ghanaians will be pushed into destitution”
In the Union’s proposal to the government, Dr Yaw Baah reiterated that “We propose that Government must immediately suspend all taxes and levies on petrol, diesel, LPG, and kerosene.
“This should bring down prices of these fuel products by an average of about 15 per cent”; adding that “The suspension should remain in force until the international price of crude oil stabilises and the decline of the Cedi has been halted.”
The directive TUC is hopeful will lead to the “reduction in fuel prices will translate into price stabilisation of essential goods in the country”.
