Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) according to political satirist, Kwame A Plus, must stop its crusade against the proposed 1.75 percent e-levy since the same party will justify its need and even increase the rate should they come to power in the future.
“Those leading the anti-e-levy crusade should stop that. I have friends in NDC and NPP and nobody influences the way I want to think. Those leading the anti-e-levy thing [should stop it],” A Plus stated on a national TV recently.
Acording to him, just as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in government is introducing new taxes, so as the NDC under Mahama regime introduced even many taxes.
“Between 2008 and 2016, there was an increase in VAT from 12 percent to 15 percent in 2014. There was an imposition of 5 percent VAT on real estate in 2014. There was an imposition of 17 percent VAT on pharmaceuticals other than retail ones. There was the abolition of the 3 percent flat rate. There was the imposition of 17.5 percent on financial services. There was the imposition of 17.5 percent on auction and promoters of public entertainment,” he listed.
“The most annoying one was the imposition of 17 percent [VAT] on businesses of gyms and spa,” he noted.
“There was the imposition on capital gain tax on petroleum operations”, he added, noting: “ All of these were introduced. They were very good. I support it. I don’t remember one time where I was against any tax.”
At the time, he said, “the government of the day [NPP] was against most of these taxes and campaigned with these and then came to power.”
“These guys [NDC] will make all the noise about e-levy, will come to power and the same people will come and sit here and justify it. E-levy will be increased,” he said.
“NDC will come to power and increase e-levy,” A Plus predicted.
“When NDC comes to power, they will not abolish e-levy. Somebody will sit on this show and explain to you why E-Levy is now very important,” he stressed.
A Plus’ observation comes a day after political pundit Ben Ephson accused the NDC of being hypocritical about the e-levy.
According to Mr Ephson, if the passage of the E-levy will make the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) unpopular, why would the NDC not support it and capitalize on it to win the next election.
