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Despite the imposition of an avalanche of taxes on Ghanaians, which is crippling many businesses in the country, some of the state institutions appear unperturbed over the development, and continue to impose more taxes –all in their efforts to maximize revenue.

The Government, in her desire to rake in more revenue, passed a new Energy Sector Levies Act (Act 899) in December 2015, under a certificate of urgency. The implementation of the new law took effect from January, this year. The Act provides for the harmonization of major energy sector levies and taxes.

Government had argued that, the levies were intended to mobilize revenues to service government debts, especially in the road and power sectors. The implementation led to increment in petroleum products on the domestic market, even though the world market price of the commodity was stable at the time.

Electricity tariffs were also increased as a result of the law. Apart from the aforementioned Act, many other taxes have been introduced with the industry suffering most from their implementations.

The Chamber of Mines is already reporting that, its members spent a whopping $314 million on power for their operations last year. The huge amount represents 20% of the mining revenue within the same period.

Just a couple of days ago, the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, attempted to impose taxes on pension allowances, but the reaction from the party leaders, including the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, forced the Finance Ministry to backtrack.

In a statement, the Ministry denied that the widely publicized reports that pension allowances were going to be taxed, accusing the media of misreporting what the minister actually said. But as the dust is about to settle, the Ghana Airport Company has also joined the fray by imposing new taxes on importers who use the facility.

In a letter dated May 11, 16 and signed by Joyce S.N. Dodoo (Mrs), Ag. Director, Communication Services, with reference number GACL/CDS/COPS/16/16, some of the privileges they (importers) enjoy, which cushion them from the high taxes they pay have been removed.

The letter reads: ‘Approval has been given for you to reduce the current cargo storage charges from eight days to four days with effect from June 1, 2016.

‘You are advised to give adequate notice to the affected clearing agents or other representatives of the new charges, prior to implementation. ‘Kindly appraise the office of Ag. Director, Communication Services of any meeting or correspondence with the clearing agents’.

The letter was copied to the Managing Director, Director, Legal Services, Director of Finance and Internal Auditor. Some of the importers and clearing agents who spoke to The Chronicle argued that the new taxes are going to collapse their business unless they pass on the new charges to the consumers of their products.

According to them they are already overburdened with taxes and for the Ghana Airport Company to reduce the free storage of their products from the mandatory eight days to just four shows that they are not concerned about their plight and that of the final consumer of the products they import. The Chronicle understands that a similar policy is already in place at the sea ports.