ADVERTISEMENT
The controversial tow levy brouhaha and Mac Manu's "back to sender"
Here's a look behind the week’s news.
Recommended articles
Mr Ofori Atta told parliament that despite inheriting a bad economy from the past administration, things are stabilizing. He stressed that the macro-economic indicators for the first half of the year are pointing in the right direction.
“…We replaced the 17.5% standard rate to a 3% flat rate. We reduced the special petroleum tax from 17.5 to 15% and abolished duties on spare parts.
“The deficit on commitment basis is now on 10.9%, up from the previous 10.3%,” the minister said.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the minority MPs would have none of that. To them, the minister was only doctoring figures to make the government’s performance look good, a claim the government has vehemently denied.
But whether the figures were cooked or not, what matters to the ordinary Ghanaian is how those figures will reflect in their pockets, and put food on their tables.
Nevertheless, the issue that should perhaps matter to the government is how it will meet its revenue targets for the financial year 2017, as many economists feel it would not be able to do so.
The government is putting some restraints on spending, but this may also have some implications on its “big” projects of government, namely the free SHS, one district one factory, one village one dam, among others. Such projects may suffer as a result of the cut in expenditure.
ADVERTISEMENT
And the governance of the country may also suffer if steps are not taken to quickly resolve what seems to be a rift between the Speaker and minority MPs.
The minority has since last two weeks been accusing the Speaker, Prof Mike Oquaye of being bias against them and not allowing them to air their views during discussions on national issues in the House.
READ ALSO: Minority walks out over Ameri deal
Last week was no exception, as the situation got out of hands when the opposition MPs staged a walk out over deliberations on the AMERI deal. Some might say the minority MPs overreacted.
But all the same, we must not allow this to continue. The leadership of the House must sit up and resolve this, else the situation is going to get worse when parliament reconvenes. And what will be the consequence? We are not going to have any serious representation in parliament.
ADVERTISEMENT
But before parliament went on recess last week, it took a very controversial decision on the nationwide towing programme which has since got many Ghanaians fuming.
In spite of public backlash over the implementation of a mandatory towing levy since June this year, the parliamentary select Committee on Roads and Transport okayed it last week, saying that the initiative will be good for the country considering the spate of accidents.
But this justification does not hold. Come on! We already have a law which says that District Assemblies all over the country are enjoined to tow all broken down vehicles on our roads at a fee. There is even a penalty for leaving vehicles or trailers on the roads. So why won’t the government enforce that law, but will rather charge Ghanaians to pay an extra levy towards that regard.
This situation whereby government try all sort of means to double-cross citizens cannot be allowed to continue. How much does the ordinary Ghanaian even earn to be wasting them away in the form of levies to solve a problem whose solution already exist.
ADVERTISEMENT
And the fact that the owners of the company at the centre of this whole programme are believed to be behind the companies in the SUBAH and SADA scandals which cost the nation about 1 billion dollars, is worrying.
How did the government and parliament even conclude that this particular company – Road Safety Management Company Limited – is the only company in the world that can deliver towing services in the country.
Well, the Ministry of Transport on Friday came out to say that it had not yet taken any decision on the implementation of the programme. Still, scores of Ghanaians are wide awake and have instituted moves and campaigns, particularly, on social media to get everyone to resist the levy.
Attempts to even take the minds of people off the topic with some backs and forth over who the founder of Ghana is or whether Dr Kwame Nkrumah won any presidential election did not wash.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ordinary Ghanaian is fully charged and will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the deal does not see the light of the day.
And to cap it all for the week, Peter Mac Manu was on Sunday denied entry into Kenya to monitor the upcoming polls.
He was leading a team of election observers from the Democratic Union of Africa to observe the election process and to share some ideas. But he did not formally disembark from the plane and he was deported.
The governing NPP has since expressed disappointment over the incident. But whichever way you look at it, it is their country and it is their election. They have the right to determine who comes in to monitor happenings. It is an accepted norm in diplomacy. Nevertheless, may the best candidate win.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Parents will soon beg for their children to enrol in public basic schools -Dr Osei- Adutwum
Government rebrands public basic schools, set to change brown and yellow uniforms
I won’t apologize for ECG Manager's arrest – Ashanti Regional Minister
Trailblazing Prof. Jane Agyemang: The political powerhouse shaking up the NDC!
John Mahama can’t succeed me as President because I defeated him twice – Akufo-Addo
President Biden signs law to potentially ban TikTok if not sold
I won’t be a driver’s mate to John Mahama – Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyeman
‘Dumsor’ challenges will end in a few days – ECG Board Chairman assures Ghanaians
