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Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed has said the voting on the three revenue bills that are currently before Parliament will be done through an open vote, not secret.
He hoped that the Minority would have all of its members available to vote to reject the bills.
Speaking an interview with TV3 in Parliament on Thursday, March 30, he said “we think that it is unacceptable that they will overburden Ghanaians with such taxes. In any case, there is no reason why the government will want to burden the people of this country with more taxes.
“These taxes have nothing to do with the IMF arrangement and that is the story that has been peddled out there.
“Sometimes one gets extremely worried speaking on it, the good thing is that this vote is not going to be done through a secret ballot, it is going to be an open ballot so we are just hoping that we get our 136 and we are very convinced that the 136 are going to vote against those taxes.”
He also urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament who he said betrayed the party and Ghanaians for voting to approve the ministers last week, to redeem their image by voting to reject the bills.
“I think that the people of this country who we have let down with regards to how the voting was done on the approval of the Ministers, we have an opportunity to let people understand that certain individuals within our rank did what was not reflective of the entire caucus.
“I think that those who unfortunately betrayed the causes, they would have realized that considering the backlash and they need to make amends,” he said.
The bills are the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill.
The government is seeking to pass these bills to generate approximately GH¢4 billion per year to supplement domestic revenue.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah earlier told the Minority in Parliament to work with the Majority to pass the three revenue bills.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah who is also a Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi told journalists in an interview on Tuesday, March 28 that “To our colleagues in the Minority, I think it is clear that we need to work together to achieve a certain objective for the country.
“Sometimes we are whipped up but let’s look at the country’s interest at this point in time.”
“The world is ready to help us, China, the Paris Club and external creditors are all with us in a good place now and are looking at us to see if we can help ourselves. My appeal to those in government, Minority, economic groups is that, we must ensure that these revenue bills are passed to close this GH¢4 billion gap”, he added.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Dr Ernest Addison also urged the House to prioritize passage of the Bil.
He said that the Monetary Policy Committee noted that the budget statement for 2023 has set fiscal policy on a consolidation path.
He said this was consistent with key elements agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Staff Level in December 2022.
The domestic debt exchange programme launched by the government, new revenue measures, and structural fiscal reforms will provide significant reduction of debt service and help create fiscal space, Dr Addison stated.
Addressing the 111th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference in Accra on Monday, March 27, he said the fiscal outlook is contingent on financing of the budget and will require the conclusion of the domestic debt exchange programme as well as securing the requisite financing assurances from bilateral donors. Indications are that these discussions are proceeding well.
“Based on the above, it is imperative that Parliament prioritizes the passage of the revenue bills currently before it,” Dr Addison said.
He further intimated that under the Staff Level Agreement with the IMF, the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance have finalised a Memorandum of Understanding on zero financing to the budget, which will be signed shortly.
“The passage of the relevant revenue bills by Parliament will therefore conclude the required prior actions to advance Ghana’s programme to the IMF Executive Board.
“This will be critical in resetting the economy on the path of recovery, including putting it firmly on a disinflation path and sustained growth,” he said.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
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