Akufo-Addo has failed to move the economy from taxation to production despite promises – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has accused the Akufo-Addo government of deceiving Ghanaians after promising to move the economy from taxation to production.

He said prior to the 2016 general elections, then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) criticized the government, claiming that Ghanaians were burdened with too many taxes and promised to focus on production, not taxes, when elected in the 2016 elections.

Mr Mahama is therefore wondering why the Akufo-Addo administration after nearly two years in office is failing to fulfil its campaign promises on reducing the tax burden but rather widening the tax net.

Former President Mahama said this when he addressed separate meetings with delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Ejisu and Subin constituencies as part of his four-day flagbearership campaign tour of the Ashanti Region.

He said as a result of the downturn in economic activities in the country, many businesses are suffering and finding it difficult to honour their tax obligations. "There is no economic activity in this country. Consumption has gone down, nobody is buying anything and so this is not the time to harass people with taxes", Mr Mahama added.

He said he is committed to working hard to provide jobs and reducing the high cost of living in the country when elected in the 2020 elections, and therefore urged the delegates to unite and work hard for the victory of the NDC.