Special Tax Not Meant to Stifle the Banks

Mr Felix K. Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Transport and Communications, on Tuesday stated that the special tax on the banks is not to stifle them as being peddled by those who do not understand the government.

He said the main issue is to raise funds to improve the living conditions of the people and to support small and medium sized enterprises to grow.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman said these on Tuesday at his maiden meeting with the executives of the National Union of Seamen (NUS) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

He said the government is undaunted and for that reason it will not abdicate from the aim of searching for every available means to feed the masses and finding jobs for the unemployed instead of witch-hunting.

The Minister said, though Ghanaian seamen are temporary unemployed they should resist the temptation of indulging in "bad life" that would mar the good reputation they have earned through discipline and hard work on both local and foreign vessels.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said, ship owners and investors can only rely on men of repute and if they go contrary to the advice they would lose various opportunities that might come their way.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said he would meet all stakeholders in the shipping industry to discuss problems facing it to find short and long-term solution so as to make Ghana a seafarer's country.

He said the government is gradually studying general problems confronting the nation and people with expertise would be involved in the solutions "since we want to work on a dialogue".

"We had people who wanted to liberalise the economy but did not understand it, and in the process mortgaged the economy without considering citizens, who can manage it", he added.

Mr Lovalace K. Mensah, General Secretary of the Union, who was accompanied by Mr Ebenezer K. Ackah, Deputy General Secretary, appealed to the government to consider revamping the Ghana Black Star Lines, or let it be operated as a joint venture.

He said shipping lines and agencies should also be made to recruit seamen through the Ghana Seamen's Employment and Welfare Board.

The Tema and Takoradi harbours should also be declared as free ports.

Mr Joseph R. A. Ankrah, Executive Secretary of the Board, said some shipping lines have been recruiting untrained seamen and this was not in the interest of the nation since they would create wrong impression about the country because of their lack of training.