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Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the outgoing Majority Leader in Parliament and Effutu’s Member of Parliament, has expressed doubts about the viability of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s pledges to enact extensive social intervention programs and do away with some taxes.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that the NDC has not yet shown a workable plan to make up the revenue loss from their proposed tax cuts, comparing it to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s strategy of generating revenue through tax cuts.
“The NDC criticized our tax regime, and my point is, when you criticize the tax regime, you’re in other words suggesting that you will not have any social intervention policy to implement,” he stated. “So far, the social intervention programmes they have promised to roll out will come at a cost. My question is, how will they fund it? The NDC has not told us the alternative. If you say you’re going to take out the betting tax and E-Levy, tell us what other sources you’re going to rely on to generate revenue” he said.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin compared the strategic approach presented by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during his campaign with the promises made by the NDC. He clarified that a more sustainable option is Bawumia’s strategy to boost revenue growth by leveraging the results of digitalization activities.
“In the Dr Bawumia campaign, he said that coming into office, he would roll out a digitalised platform, train our youth, and give them access to technology. Through technology, they would be able to create opportunities for themselves, and businesses would take advantage to expand,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said. “He believes that with this technological drive, the state would gain significantly, and taxes like the betting tax and E-Levy will be removed.”
Using initiatives like Free SHS, the One District, One Factory (1D1F) campaign, and the extension of the school feeding program as examples of effective interventions, Afenyo-Markin highlighted the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) history of fulfilling campaign pledges.
“When we were in opposition, we promised Free SHS, and we came into office and implemented it. We also promised 1D1F as an incentive for the private sector, and we fulfilled that promise. We expanded the school feeding programme, which was limited to a few schools, and rolled it out nationwide,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin says that the NPP’s strategy goes beyond merely criticizing taxes without offering substitute sources of income and instead concentrates on creating resources via creative projects like digitalization.
“We’ve shown that our promises are tied to practical plans and outcomes. The NDC, on the other hand, needs to show how they will fund their interventions without the taxes they want to remove,” he added.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
