The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) says it “will not accept any additional tax components in this International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout the government is seeking.” This, according to the Association, had become highly imperative because Ghana’s port was already choked-up with cut-throat taxes that had adversely worsened the plight of its members.
A release signed by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Asaki Samson Awingobit, indicated that the Association had become aware of the government’s decision to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
“We know that engagement with the IMF comes with so many conditionalities, which include the introduction of taxes,” the Association stated.
It added: “We, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, want to state categorically that we will not accept any additional tax components in this IMF bailout government is seeking.”
It continued that the business community would do anything and everything to resist any layer of taxes at the ports in the name of the IMF bailout conditionalities.
“We are, by this, advising government to stick to prudent expenditures and rather cut down all the wasteful expenditure, by reducing the numerous government appointees, especially at the Presidency,” it stated.
It also urged the President to desist from chartering private jets for his official international trips in these hard times, and possibly return to the use of the Presidential Jet. According to the Association, the President must direct his ministers to park their V8 vehicles and resort to saloon cars, and also halt the payment of all allowances.
It also called for the complete cut off of deputy ministerial positions, because, in the view of the association, such positions contributed to draining the already limited resources in the kitty.
“Finally, we are joining calls on the need for the President to dismiss his Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, and BoG boss, Dr. Ernest Addison, because they have failed to live up to expectations.
“We are of a firm conviction that the IMF is not the solution to brining relief to Ghanaians, but rather going to bring us untold hardship that we are already experiencing,” the statement added.
Last week, President Akufo-Addo instructed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to officially start an engagement with the International Monetary Fund to reactivate Ghana’s possible return for support. This was a follow up to an earlier call made by President Akufo-Addo to the IMF boss, Kristalina Georgieva, indicating Ghana’s intention to return to the Fund to seek support for its poor economy.
