The Ghana Private Road Transport Union has cautioned against what it describes a misconceived desire to over tax an already over burdened service provider. Otherwise a very vital part of the golden age of business would be derailed.
Reacting to the announcement by the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] last Thursday, to raise the daily tax paid by commercial vehicles, Union boss E. K. Gbedemah described it a pill that may be too bitter to swallow.
He said that even though he has facilitated discussions among transport owners on the new move, reception has been unwelcome.
The transport owners did not just appreciate why any veiled attempt must be made by any institution to raise transport fares since the burden of operation would at the end of the day be passed on to the final consumer-the passenger.
He therefore called on parliament and the cabinet to examine the new tax structure very carefully before committing transport owners to its payment now that there is time to.[the new daily tax has been scheduled for march]
Mr. Gbedemah whose Union has witnessed some internal upheavals recently prayed that the “powers that be” would not capitalise on the situation to present a short sighted solution to a very vital sector of the economy. “People will want to take advantage of every situation and this is no exception so it is up to the people up there to know the grain from the chaff.
Defending his position, the national chairman pointed at the cost of maintenance that seem to have shot up twofold, the cost of fuel which they were made to accept without any corresponding increases in transport fares, and the recent increase in the amount needed to secure a commercial driver’s license.
He claimed that already, transport operators felt over burdened at invariably bearing any raise in operations. Philosophising along the Bob Marley vein, Mr Bgedemah could only sigh a “ who feels it knows it” but said his Union executives think the idea is not strategic at this time.
Questioned on allegations of misapplication of some over 52 billion cedis, the Union boss flanked by his Wenchi and Sewhi branch chairmen described the allegation as the brainwork of persons who want to reap where they have not sown. He suggested that some of the champions of this new crusade are persons who themselves have questions to answer the GPRTU.
However he was also optimistic pledging the contribution of the Union to the golden age of business but cautioned we must not destroy the hen that lays the golden egg The commissioner of the IRS called a press conference last Thursday to
