The French Football Federation have apparently sent a warning email to referees telling them that stopping matches to allow Muslim players to break their fast will not be allowed.
A leaked email suggests that the FFF have placed a ban on officials stopping games to allow players to consume food and water at the side of the pitch.
Players of Islamic faith are currently going through the period of Ramadan that requires them to abstain from drinking or eating from dawn to sunset.
The decision made in the French professional divisions had the FFF’s email telling referees: ‘Football takes no account of the political, religious, ideological or trade union considerations of its actors.’ ‘This principle is binding on everyone: authorities – clubs – licensees – referees. It is up to all stakeholders to enforce it, ‘it is written at the conclusion of the email,’ it added.
French international and Aston Villa full-back Lucas Digne who has made 46 appearances for the national team was first to respond to the claims.
Digne posting on his twitter account responded by suggesting that the federation was living in the past as he wrote: ‘2023’ alongside three facepalming emojis.
Leicester's game against Palace in 2021 was briefly paused so Wesley Fofana could break his fast
Referees in the Premier League and EFL have reportedly been asked to pause evening games during Ramadan to allow players to break their fast.
The holy period of Ramadan, which is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is set to start on Wednesday and will end on the evening of Friday April 21.
A number of Muslim players will be abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours and match officials in England’s top four divisions have been asked to halt night matches so these players can take on liquids, energy gels and supplements, according to Sky Sports.
They have been encouraged to wait for a natural stoppage in play, such as a goal kick or a throw-in, before pausing the game.
Teams have also been told to try and agree a rough time with the referee ahead of kick-off for the brief stoppage to take place.
Regardless of the stiff opposition mounted by the minority Members of Parliament (MPs), their colleagues on the other side of the aisle managed to pass all three revenue bills last Friday.
Passing these billswas critical to the government’s application for a $3 billion credit facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It was a numbers game in Parliament last Friday, as the NDC MPs appeared not prepared to be beaten for the second time, having fallen flat in the votes that approved President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.
Unlike the approval of ministerial nominees which was done through secret ballot, all three revenue bills were passed by head count, at the instance of the minority.
They challenged the Speaker’s ruling at the third reading of all the bills, drawing strength from Order 113 (2), which led to the head count.
Having gone through the consideration stages, Speaker Alban Bagbin put the question (‘Ayes or Nos’) to those in favor of the bills being read for the third time.
It was always the majority side that shouted in favor on top of their voices, whilst the minority screamed against it. The majority won the voice vote on each of the questions, according to the Speaker.
Minority members
However, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, rose after each ruling to demand a head count.
This was accepted by the Speaker, though the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, attempted to deflate the motions.
On the second attempt by the Minority Chief Whip to challenge the Speaker’s ruling, after the voice note, the Deputy Majority Leader, in a counter appeal, opined that his colleague on the other side was “abusing” Order 113(2).
DAMAGE CONTROL
The demeanor of the minority throughout the passage of the bills last Friday, which ended after 12 midnight, showed a side that did not want to be seen as pushovers.
Monitoring proceedings from the press gallery in the Chamber, this paper observed the hard-line attitude of the opposition MPs, even when the Speaker repeated that he was following the direction of the leaders of the House.
At a point, some NDC MPs’ reactions reached a crescendo, compelling the Speaker to intervene. They were challenging the numbers too, but the Speaker stated that he read out what the table office had counted and given to him.
Besides, there was a cue from leadership that if any member had an issue, “the right thing to do is to write it on a piece of paper and pass it to their leaders,” Bagbin said, adding that “normally leaders catch the Speaker’s eye.”
Last Friday, all 136 NDC MPs were present and sat through the processes leading to the voting of all the bills.
This paper also observed that the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, was not in the Chamber, nor was the General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong.
SUSPENSION
During the proceedings, the Speaker abruptly suspended sitting, but did not state how long the break would last, which is the usual procedure.
He left his seat and the MPs began to converse amongst themselves, moving from one side of the floor to the other, as others also trooped to the cafeteria to refresh themselves.
The Chronicle went to the entrance of the forecourt of the Chamber, where a guard of honor is mounted for presidents when they visit the House.
Upon getting out, this paper saw an ambulance parked, but opened, with some members of the majority around. The doors to the ambulance were closed as this paper approached, and the vehicle drove off.
We found out that the MP for Nanton constituency, Mohammed HardiTuferi, who was driving to the House to vote, got involved in an accident. He was ferried in an ambulance to Parliament but was not in the Chamber, to make the point that he was in the precincts of Parliament, which allowed him to be counted and to vote.
The Chronicle also witnessed the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, being called to the ambulance to ascertain his colleague MP, who was involved in the accident.
COMMENTS
Both sides of the House sounded repetitive with regards to their entrenched positions on the various bills.
Whereas the minority insisted they were draconian and must be rejected, the majority argued they would generate revenue for the government, in its quest to repair the current state of the economy.
The Minority Leader, Dr. CassielAto Forson, moved amendments during the consideration to have the bills rejected through the backdoor.
On the Excise Stamp Duty bill, he did not agree with the government wanting to tax tobacco and spirits, for instance. But his argument was countered by the Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei Asare who argued that government, whilst boosting revenue, would also limit the intake of hard liquor as well as the smoking of tobacco.
The minority also vehemently opposed the Income Tax Amendment bill, arguing that the ordinary citizen would suffer if the bill passed.
THE BILLS
The three bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, which will adjust upwardS the tax on income; the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, which will tax or increase tax on tobacco; and the Alcohol Tax (Amendment) Bill, which will tax alcohol at a higher rate than beer and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill. The three together are expected to rake in some GH₡4 billion annually.
The government had appealed to Parliament to pass these bills earlier, to enable it to land the deal with the IMF by the end of last year, but that could not happen.
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who had traveled to China to hold meetings on Ghana’s external debt restructuring, was in Parliament last Friday and sat throughout the sitting.
Damages in cedi equivalent of US$2,600,000 with interest dating back to 2010, has been awarded against the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Samuel Yaw Annor.
Dr Annor and his Company, Annor & Associates, are to pay the damages for breach of contract with the Veteran Administration of Ghana (VAG).
He was slapped with the damages by an Accra Land High Court, presided over by Justice Jennifer Anne Myers Ahmed, on Friday, 31 March, 2023.
The court, in its judgement set aside all agreements – Memorandum of Understanding reached in August 30, 2002 – the Deed of Assignment, April 4, 2004 – the Deed of Assignment July 7, 2006 and the entry of the Land Affidavit in July 28, 2010 – entered into by Dr Annor and VAG.
Justice Mrs Ahmed settled the case, which was initiated by Dream Reality against VAG, as first defendant, Annor & Associates (2nd defendant), Dr Samuel Yaw Annor (3rd defendant) and Independent Properties (4th defendant).
Dr Annor also has a major stake in Independent Properties (4th defendant), where his wife is a director.
While VAG was accused of failing to vacate the disputed land at Airport Commercial Area, after an agreement with Dr Annor to develop same into a shopping mall and penthouses, the court held that VAG was able to prove that Dr Annor rather failed to discharge his obligations under the agreement.
The court also concluded that the actions of Annor & Associates cannot be discounted as a face of Dr Annor, since the latter deceived the first defendant to part with the land and continue with the deceit by falling to inform VAG.
“The court, hereby, set aside assignment of the land, measuring 2.533 acres, to the fourth defendant (Independent Properties) and orders first defendant (VAG) to [take] possession of same,” the judge ruled.
The court further concluded that the plaintiff, Dream Reality Ghana, is an independent purchaser without value, therefore, would continue to hold the size of land measuring 5.89 metres.
Dream Reality was ordered by the court to engage VAG, Landlords and by which the court said its relief was granted in parts.
The plaintiff, however, was awarded cost of GH¢50,000 in favour of VAG.
Background
Dr Annor entered into an agreement with VAG in 2002 to develop their land into a shopping mall and penthouses to the benefit of ex-servicemen and women.
There were subsequent supplementary arraignments to concretise the agreement, for which Dr Annor was given an entry into the land in 2010.
Dr Annor later established Annor & Associates to act as an agent and sold a portion of the land to Dream Reality Ghana, a real estate developing company.
Similarly, Independent Properties was also assigned part of the land to develop it into hotel complex, all without the knowledge of VAG.
Hitherto, Dr Annor was supposed to pay VAG US$134,558.40 which he failed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Annor, under cross-examination testified that he sold the land to recoup his losses.
From left Apostle Maxwell Aryeetey Foster, Apostle Isaac Adade and Apostle Kenneth Ashaley Addo.
A section of the youth of the Divine Healer’s Church Also Known as Brother Lawson has appealed to the Board of Trustees of the church to engage the pastors who have sent some leaders of the church to court to withdraw the case and settle the matter at home.
According to the youth calling themselves the Concerned Youth of The Divine Healer’s Church and other organs of the Divine Healer’s Church numbering 235 in a petition and a memo dated 17 March, 2023 and signed by the Conveyer, Henry Smith Lartey, said much as the plaintiffs may have genuine reasons for going to court, the issue can still be settled at home.
“We have also learnt regrettably that this matter has become a subject of a legal suit in an Accra High Court, a case initiated by some respectable Pastors of our Church. This case in court has received considerable media attention in newspapers, radio news, television news and extensively online. This is certainly not good news for our great Church, which has remained peaceful over 69 years.
“We cannot be spectators at this crucial moment of our Church. We risk losing following for Christ and we are at a verge of being described by society as not a law-abiding Church. The church is supposed to be the standard of morality for society,” the petitioners noted.
They called on the trustees to immediately call all parties to the table and resolve this amicably to end any further negative press against the church and not to set a bad precedent for future generations.
It would be recalled that the six pastors of the Divine Healer’s Church have dragged their General Overseer and five other leaders of the church to court to challenge their continuous stay in office.
The Plaintiffs, Apostle Daniel Mensah Attakpah, Rev. Philip Attakpah, Johannies Ollenu, Rev. Jonathan Nyabu, Pastor Solomon Amenyo and Pastor Ebenezer Nartey, claim that the term of the General Overseer, Apostle Isaac Kwabena Adade, the five other defendants, the trustees, Apostles, Maxwell Aryeetey Foster, Kenneth Ashaley Addo, Emmanuel Acquaye and Dora Edith Osekre have ended.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC Chairman and Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti NDC Regional scribe
A total of 86 candidates have filed their nominations to contest for 35 parliamentary seats on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region.
A statement issued by Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, said the vetting of the aspirants who had filed their nomination forms would be held from today, Monday April 3, to Wednesday April 5, 2023.
Ejura/Sekyedumase has the highest number of five aspirants, in the persons of Juliana Kinang-Wassan, Kombat Suuk Paul, Awal Asaad, Muhammad Bawa Brimah, the incumbent, and
Mohammed Sisu Tamimu, while Atwima Nwabiagya North, Atwima Nwabiagya South, Offinso South and Kwadaso would have four contestants vying for the parliamentary seats.
They are Gertrude Nartey, Mba Zecharian Alenbilla, Richard Badu and Paul Asiamh Yeboah (Atwima Nwabiagya North); Nana Asare Bediako, Salifu Mohammed, Derrick Owusu Boateng and Osei Boamah Wisdom (Atwima Nwabiagya South).
Yussif Harunna, Vincent Asare Badiako, Julia Anohene and Osei Bright (Offinso South) and Monica Bawuah, Eric Asibey, Francis Dumeh, and Abubakari Abdul Fatwu for Kwadaso.
Samuel Aboagye has filed for Obuasi East while Faustina Appiah Kannin and Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh would lock horns at the Obuasi West NDC primaries.
The Akrofoum seat will be solely contested for by Joseph Azuma.
The Bosomtwe seat would be vied for by Ibrahim Asante Boadu, Kwame Kutortse Dannies and Ing. Abdullah Hamidu, while Bance Musah Ousmane and Samuel Adjei go for the Manso Nkwanta seat.
The contestants for the Odotobiri seat are Emmanuel Obeng Agyemang, Freddrick Addai and Stephen Owusu.
Others contestants are Samuel Prempeh Jnr (Bekwai); Abdul Salam Adams and Ernest Kofi Yakah (New Edubiase), Yahaya Seidu and Yakubu Issifu (Mampong), Kwasi Amankwa (Kumawu) and Maame Sarfoaa Appiah, Amponsah Victor Kwame and De-Graft Forkuo (Asante Akim South).
The rest are Juaben – Kwadwo Owusu and Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu; Effiduase – Raymond Opoku Agyeman and Osei Christopher Sarfo; Kwabre East – Mohammed Sakib Umar, Joseph Amankwah and Frederick Sarfo-Asante and Asante Akim North Edward Kofi Asamoah and
Sulley Adams Yussif.
Afigya Sekyere East – Twumasi Evans Amoh, Samuel Duku Sarfo and Osei Banor; Nsuta Kwamang Beposo – Kofi Kwateng Amaning Kokuro Ejisu – Lincoln Osei Bonsu Stephen, Elvis Koka, Lawyer Emmanuel Amoah and Jerryne Asante.
Atwima Mponua – Awudu Abdul Razak and Stephen Yeboah.
Atwima Kwanwoma – Patricia Ayombil and Grace Agyemang Asamoah.
The two aspirants for Ahafo Ano South East are Kofi Nti Boateng and Mohammed Yakubu with Emmanuel Jackson Agumah and Amidu Godfred Daanaah going for the Afygya Kwabre North seat.
The Afigya Kwabre South seat will be contested for by Patricia Pearl Ankrah, Vivian Nyuzagla Nuzagl and Prince Sylvester Ayirebi Mensah while Amoh Kamel and Dorcas Dufie Osei Boadu eye the Asokwa seat for the NDC.
At Tafo, Sahmudeen Mohammed Kamil will be the sole contender while Anwel Sadat Ahmed, and Joshua Kwame Kingsley Fugah will aspire for the Oforikrom seat.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, will face Mubarick Masawudu in the primaries.
Nhyiaeso – Stephen Obiri Yeboah, Richard Kwamina Prah and Faustina Dery Bayor; (Suame-Frank Owusu Ansah, Safianou Nassamou Lawal); Bantama – Daniel Sasu Maari, Simon Addai Dapaah and Joseph Amo; Manhyia North Constituency will contend with the sole candidature of Hamza Swallah.
Official NDC source indicates that the filing of nomination forms in the other 11 remaining constituencies are on hold until further notice.
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has submitted his nomination forms to run as an unopposed candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who is seeking re-election in 2024 for the eighth time, has represented Asutifi South constituency since 1992.
He lost the seat to the New Patriotic Party’s Mrs Cecilia Gyan Amoah in the 2000 elections, but regained it in 2004.
Presenting his forms for consideration by the Party at Hwidiem, Collins Dauda urged members and sympathisers of the party to spread the campaign message of the party to intensify membership drive and enhance role of members to elect their preferred candidates and leaders to lead the party.
He emphasised the need for them to eschew pride and undertake a membership drive towards the election 2024 campaign, with humility and respect to impact on constituents.
Alhaji Dauda noted thatsocio-economic developments like motorable roads, availability of potable water, electricity, health and educational facilities in Asutifi South was as a result of the NDC good governance of the country,
He, therefore, appealed to the electorate to maintain not only him as MP, but also former president John Mahama as the election 2024 flagbearer.
He told constituency party executives that the rationale behind NDC’s biometric registration exercise was to encourage transparency in their voting process.
The entire Asutifi South Constituency Executives of the NDC has pledged their unflinching support for Mr. Collins Dauda.
Mr. Anas Muhammed, the Constituency Secretary stated that the position of the executives is based on the conviction of its capabilities and the good works of the MP, hence the need to rally behind him to help win the constituency and the Presidential elections with a big margin for the party.
He pleaded with other Executives across the country to work hard in making the presidential election a mere formality for former President John Dramani Mahama, to enable him rescue Ghanaians from the current economic hardship.
According to him, former President Mahama is the only person that can rescue Ghanaians from the economic mess being witnessed under the current administration.
Parliament has, by consensus, rejected the Electoral Commissions’ (EC) proposal of making the Ghana Card the only means of identification of citizenship for the purposes of voter registration in an impending Constitutional Instrument (CI) the latter intended to lay.
The rejection was contained in a report by the Committee of the Whole presented to the House, a debate by members and a subsequent voice vote after the debate on the same day, Friday, March 31, 2023.
According to the House, the timing for the legislation was not right since many Ghanaians had not been able to acquire the Ghana Card.
The House recommended to the EC to allow eligible voters to procure the Ghana Card before it could legislate it as a sole means of voter identification.
“…The Committee is emphatic in its position that this is not the time to introduce and implement the Ghana Card as the only means of identification of citizenship for the purposes of voter registration. The EC should tarry slowly until every eligible voter is afforded the opportunity to register and procure the Ghana card before the legislation of such a compulsion.”
The motion for the adoption of the report was moved by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Joseph Osei Owusu, and was seconded by Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament (MP), Tamale South.
It would be recalled that EC’s proposal to use the Ghana Card as the sole means of voter registration generated a number of concerns from some Ghanaians, and also among the members of Parliament.
Parliament, therefore, requested its two committees, the Special Budget Committee and the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, to produce a report pursuant to that.
Upon a pre-laying meeting with the EC, the committees indicated in a report that it would not accept and would reject any effort that was geared towards making the use of the Ghana Card as the only medium to qualify a person who was eligible to vote in the 2024 elections.
The report said that it supported any effort that would enable every Ghanaian to get a Ghana Card, but since some citizens were unable to register for the national card due to the existence of serious challenges, the National Identification Authority (NIA) was confronted with, using the Ghana Card as the only medium for voter registration would impact negatively on the electoral role and prevent some qualified persons from registering to vote.
It, therefore, recommended to the House to hold a special meeting with the EC and the National Identification Authority in order to advance discussions on the CI.
The Committee of the Whole, therefore, invited the EC, the NIA and the Ministry for Finance to brief it. The Committee then came up with a number of recommendations in its report after the briefing from the three institutions.
“The Committee, following the presentation by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority and the Minister responsible for Finance, made the following observations and submissions, among others, to be included in the new C.I. by the Commission to improve the voter registration exercise and the entire electoral process:
“The idea of dealing with the challenge of multiplicity of identification cards and documents, by creating a Ghana Card or National identification Cord is most laudable and supported by the parties and governments.
There is cross-party consensus on the idea of dealing with the challenge of multiplicity of identification cards, by creating a Ghana Card or a National identification Card. However, there are serious challenges for the usage of the Ghana Cord as the sole means of identification as a Ghanaian to be entitled to be registered as a voter. These challenges include:
“The lack of adequate resources to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian is registered before the 2024 general elections.
“The trust deficits between the political parties and the consequent lack of consensus on the implementation at this time,” the report noted.
Members from both side of the House who also commented on the report also expressed similar concerns raised in the report.
Mr. Iddrisu, the immediate past Leader of the Minority Caucus, said the Minority was opposed to the idea and would reject any move by the electoral management body to make the Ghana Card the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter, because, “There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” and the CI did not guarantee those rights.
The Deputy Minority Whip, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, also charged his colleagues to vote against the CI when it was finally brought to Parliament for approval.
“I want to call on colleagues from all sides to vote to adopt the report because doing so will do the country some good.”
The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Mr. Alexander Afenyo Markins, said the decision to direct the EC to rework the CI was a neutral one devoid of political leanings since both sides were concerned about the possible infringement on one’s right to vote should the CI be pushed through in the form that it came.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to dispel any notion that purported that the Majority was in support of the CI while the Minority was against it.
“It must be emphasized that in coming to a conclusion on the way to go on the CI, this matter was not a partisan one, but it was one that all of us had an interest in, and so I will want to dispel any notion out there that whereas the NDC was against the EC, the NPP was for the EC.”
A Chief State Attorney, Evelyn Keelson, has prayed Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, who has been appointed to preside over the trial Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and others, to adopt an almost six years proceedings as recorded by retired Supreme Court Justice, Clemence Honyenuga.
According to her, the new judge should consider the number of years the case had travelled, the stage it had reached, as well as the number of witnesses that had been called to testify.
She noted that the case had, on many occasions, gone to the Supreme Court, with several rulings given, therefore, starting it de novo (afresh or anew) would cause a miscarriage of justice.
She added that the demeanour of the accused should not be the key consideration in the instant application, as no miscarriage of justice would be served if the proceedings were adopted and the case not started de novo.
The court will try Dr. Opuni, first accused (A1), a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of thee Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), businessman Seidu Agongo (A2), and his company, Agricult Ghana Limited (A3).
Counsel on the defence, Samuel Codjoe and Benson Nutsukpi, however, kicked against the argument of the prosecution and want the court to do otherwise.
Mr. Codjoe, speaking on behalf of A1, said the application by the prosecution was alien to criminal justice, and same had been settled by the Supreme Court.
Explaining that in civil matters the practice was that it was the Judge who determined, but in a criminal case that adoption and reforms had not been carried.
According to him, in criminal trials, cases start de novo and the reason was that it would be unfair to the accused persons.
He told the court that this principle was grounded in the golden rule that it was better people who were guilty walk free than to imprison an innocent person.
Opuni’s counsel added that Section 80 of the Evidence Act referred to by the prosecution makes it clear that the court had to look at the demeanour of the accused, but it was not the sole determining fact. He averted the court to the fact that in criminal cases the rights of the individual was considered.
Furthermore he asked: “If the state says upon all its machinery the state suffers, how much more the accused?
“We are saying that if you consider the essence of criminal trials and the judicial rules, the case has to start de novo.”
Counsel also reminded the court that Article 129(2) of the 1992 Constitution established that the decision of the court was binding on all lower courts.
“We prayed that the trial starts de novo, and what the prosecution failed to add was that though we have called seven witnesses, we have 4 more to call for the first accused. Why the State with all its apparatus is asking for adoption? It would be unfair to the accused, but also against the established practice.”
Benson Nutsukpi, counsel for A2 and A3, was also opposed to the application and reiterated that the practice was to start the trial de novo, and anything contrary was yet to be decided by the Apex Court.
The court has adjourned the case to enable it interrogates some of the issues arisen.
Background
Opuni’s trial started with the previous judge in May 2018.
The prosecution closed its case after calling seven witnesses, for which Dr. Opuni also opened his defence and has, so far, called seven witnesses, with four more to go.
The former COCOBOD CEO and the others have been charged with money laundering, corruption of public office, violation of the Procurement Act, defrauding by false pretences, and wilfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢2.1 billion in a fertiliser deal.
They have pleaded not guilty to the 27 charges, and are on GH¢300,000.00 self-recognisance bail each. The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
After back and forth arguments, both inside and outside Parliament, the Legislative House has, by a majority decision, passed the three critical revenue bills into law. They are the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022 and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
When the new taxes finally become operational, they will rake in GH¢4 billion annually to help shore-up our domestic revenue mobilisation.
As expected, the Minority side of the House voted against the three bills. They had argued that if the bills were passed into law, it would exacerbate the already precarious economic situation in the country.
According to the Minority members, prices of goods and services would also go up when the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) starts imposing the new taxes on goods.
A number of organisations, including the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), according to the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, had petitioned his outfit to critically look at the three bills, because they would essentially increase their production costs, which they will also pass on to the consumer.
The government, on its part, also contended that without the passage of the three bills into law, it will be impossible to secure the Board Management Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to subsequent release of $3billion to the government to help bring back confidence in the economy.
The IMF has given the government a number of conditions that must be fulfilled. Among these conditions are the restructuring of both our domestic and international debts, and also the mobilisation of enough domestic revenues.
Fortunately, the government was able to sort out the debt restructuring brouhaha, leaving the domestic revenue mobilisation conundrum to be solved. The Chronicle concedes that all the issues raised by the Minority and some industry players are genuine. If the new taxes are going to result in the escalation of prices, who, in his or her rightful senses will welcome them?
But much as these are genuine concerns, we must also look at the general health of our national economy, which has a huge deficit gap that must be filled. Previously, governments were borrowing to support the domestic revenue we generate, but because of the huge debt hanging on our necks, external creditors are no more prepared to help us.
Yes, the opposition is accusing the government of over indulging in borrowing, but whether the accusation is justifiable or not, the bottom line is that we have a huge deficit in the budget, which, if not closed, can crash the economy. This, in our opinion, is where the focus should be and not the usual politicking that will not help in solving the matter.
It is upon the basis of this that we think the passage of the three bills into law is welcome news, though we admit that it has negative strings attached to them.
When Greece, a developed nation, had similar challenges in the past, she resorted to draconian measures, which most of her citizens were not enthused about, but they had to swallow the bitter pill.
Today, as a result of those draconian measures, Greece’s economy has rebounded and the people are now enjoying the standard of life they used to enjoy in the past, before the economic turmoil. It is, therefore, our contention that these revenue measures that the Akufo-Addo government has adopted today may sound harsh, but in a few years to come, we will begin to see its positive impact on our lives.
We appeal to all Ghanaians to put their shoulders to the wheel and ensure that we achieve our objectives as a country for our betterment and that of generations yet unborn.
