Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to take a u-turn on the personal income tax has rather earned him the fury of some Minority members in parliament.
Mr. Ofori-Atta announced during the reading of the 2018 Mid-year Budget review, the introduction of an additional personal income tax where persons who earn GHC 10,000 and above will have to pay taxes of 35% as part of measures to raise more revenue to meet its revenue target for the 2018 fiscal year.
After much protests for a revision of the decision, government, in its 2019 budget decided that persons who earn income above GH¢20,000 will now be subject to a tax rate of 30 per cent.
“We have listened to the feedback from the public and come to the conclusion that some relief from this tax measure is justified”, Mr. Ofori-Atta said in Parliament.
Speaking to Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Fifi Kwetey after the Budget presentation Thursday, he described the situation as tragic. He saw nothing laudable about the new move, rather, it was completely ‘stupid’ that the Finance Minister refused caution initially and still went ahead to implement the policy.
“It’s a tragedy for this country that you have a Finance Minister who actually has been warned by people in government and therefore knows better and refused to listen, stubbornly refused to listen, it’s like you are going the wrong direction and we tell you where you are going is wrong, until you go and your car crashes then you come and turn around and you want us to applaud you? Applaud you for that stupidity and stubbornness, no, that’s nothing to be applauded for”, he said.
He believes a ‘listening’ government should not wait to change decisions only after enough harm has been done.
“If you are a listening government, listen well and listen fast, don’t wait till your car crashes before you listen, that’s not listening, that’s wrong listening”, he continued.
Background
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Thursday November 15 read the 2019 Budget statement on the floor of parliament. He among other things touched on the total revenue and grants expected for the 2019 fiscal year. Agriculture; Industry; Infrastructure; Entrepreneurial Support; Revenue Mobilisation protection of the Public Purse and Social Partnership all featured in the 2019 Budget.
In the Agricultural sector, it would expand the Planting for Food and Jobs to programme to cover a million farmers and increase storehouse capacity by 80,000 metric tonnes, among others.
Under infrastructure, several projects are expected to be undertaken including roads, housing, health and water projects, with a $2 billion facility as well as other sources of funding.
More than one billion cedis will be invested in industry while under the National Entrepreneurship an Innovation Support Programme, another set of 10,000 entrepreneurs would be trained and financial support provided to about 2000 of entrepreneurs.
VIDEO-
Source: ghanaweb.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
fii you are a disgrace to your family typical nonsence
Oh Fiifi, you could have been more civil instead of this which does not befit an MP. In any case, Ken saw the need to change the tax threshold based upon on the consultations that were held. A sign of a listening government better than NDC who will not listen and even insult people who criticse them.
So this is how a member of parliament speaks? How deep is this man thinking? How can he said "We Won't Applaud 'stubborn' Ofori-Atta For His '***barred word***' - Fifi Kwetey. I am very surprised that such people can stand behind politics to insult people who have made life proper not through ***barred word*** national covers.
This Guy has an inferiority complex. Thus, excessive aggressiveness through overcompensation, trying to cover up his academic deficiency with offensive and attacking words. He is so intellectually blurred that he couldn't have just academically rationalized the bases for his tax protest and so he took to go nuts. And such an idiotttt was a Minister in a Government.No wonder that Mahama's Administration was a big flop!
So can’t we have a debate or intellectual discourse without insults and anger so MP bibiooo bi ooo these are the babies with sharp teeth ooo
I tried not to reply him ( Fiifi) but could not help cuz of his narrow minded submission!!!
This Fiifi Kwetey guy is the most "HOLLOW" person I have ever come across. He feels he could only make his point by insulting his opponent. We have grown past that age where people hail you because you know how to throw jabs at well respected people in the society, just for the purpose of achieving fleety political points. May God forgive all "insulting" politicians and make them wiser in the coming years. Shame on you Fiifi Kwertey
I knew this guy will get loud when they go into opposition. When he was given the Agric ministry, he was very quiet and messed up the place. He has suddenly found his voice. Who takes him serious anyway!
Always insulting yet empty barrels. What did you do in your tenure?
ALL THESE PEOPLE GOT POSITIONS IN THE NDC THATS WHY COME WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.FUULLISSH GUY FIIFI KWETEY INSULTING OFORI ATTA BECAUSE HE IS VERY COMPETENT AND DOING WHAT THEY COULDN'T DO.