Commercial drivers are most likely to go on demonstration should the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) go ahead to effect the new income tax rate announced last Friday by the Commissioner. The drivers have already kicked against the new rate describing it as “unfair and an attempt to cheat.”
The drivers and car owners, all members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) were very vehement at the refusal of government to approve a corresponding increment on lorry fares when it increased tariffs on fuel in March last year. They had apparently expected government to approve a 20 per cent increment. Instead they were offered 10 per cent.
Members of the GPRTU who spoke to the Network Herald thought that the government has so far failed to deal with the numerous problems and needs of commercial transport operators. They expressed concern about what they thought is double standards on the part of administrators who attempt to control transportation fares without making any effort to control the prices of engine oil, brake fluid and spare parts, that keep escalating by the day.
Mr. Prince Doe of the Kpando-Kwamikrom branch questioned the fairness in the increment on the income tax, which he said is not realistic for transport operators in the country. To him, raising the target from ?4 billion to ?28 billion this year, is overtly ambitious. Another one who would rather his name is not mentioned, declared that their sector was already reeling from the effects of last year’s increment and so would not allow what he called “another cheating from the government.”
He emphasized that this could be the last straw to send them on the demonstration that they held back last year adding, it is most likely that they would embark on that aluta if the recent developments were not rectified.
