Govt urged to find alternative sources of revenue

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Mr. Michael Nunoo, Member of the Central Committee of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) on Friday called on government to find alternative sources of revenue generation for development rather than petroleum taxes, that had increased economic hardships on the people.

He said government could introduce progressive tax policies for the rich, luxury goods as well as impose heavy taxes on imported meat, poultry products and rice.

"Government should endeavour to clamp down on corruption and waste, minimize the size of its machinery, cut down on unproductive expenditure to reduce the opulent lifestyles of state officials and their appendages," he added.

Mr. Nunoo made the call at a forum organized by the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) under the topic: "Petroleum pricing policy and its impact on national development" in Accra.

The forum, attended by activists from political parties, was part of strategies by the SFG and Committee for Joint Action (CJA) nation-wide to educate people on petroleum pricing policy and mobilize grassroots support for their activities.

Mr Nunoo noted that frequent increases on petroleum products had affected school fees, food, rent, health, transportation, prices of goods and services and unemployment due to closure of factories and business enterprises.

He said the petroleum pricing policy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was a consequence of its decision to join the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) programme to meet its revenue target. Mr Nunoo said after failing to meet its revenue target, the government decided to increase prices of petroleum products and utilities such water and electricity every three months to meet its revenue target.

Mr Ato Ahwoi, Former Minister of Fuel and Power during the PNDC era and member of CJA, called on the government to reduce taxes on petroleum products because life had become unbearable for majority of the people. 12 Aug. 06