The NDC government inherited the governing philosophy of Kwame Nkrumah wherein the national resources became the property of the Supreme Leader, to be wastefully disbursed to his cronies at will.
If in doubt, count the num ... read full comment
The NDC government inherited the governing philosophy of Kwame Nkrumah wherein the national resources became the property of the Supreme Leader, to be wastefully disbursed to his cronies at will.
If in doubt, count the number of Nkrumaist ideologues and freeloaders taking shelter under the umbrella of the NDC.
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
Thanks for your comments.
We've observed and concluded that you go around making comments under "Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law", "Mahmoud" (i.e., $1 billion), etc.!
From your comment on our curren ... read full comment
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
Thanks for your comments.
We've observed and concluded that you go around making comments under "Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law", "Mahmoud" (i.e., $1 billion), etc.!
From your comment on our current essay, we have concluded you did not really read the essay.
WE SAID, IN PART: "...Our record on the NPP is available for all who care to know...//...We are not saying that the NPP did a superior job the last time around..."
We need to focus on the content of what we say here!
WE WILL NOW ADD THIS: The NPP failed the probity and accountability test. In this case, the NPP had a great opportunity to frontally address the "Tax Free Ride" by these politicians. But, Mr Kuffour and his gang of officials couldn't find time to fix that Rawlings-infested Constitution(s). The NPP squandered all those 8 years.
To the point, Kuffour, Akuffo-Addo, and all those "high" officials under them did not pay a pesewa of taxes on their high incomes.
Further, in the end, Mr. Kuffour approved all those gigantic separation payments for himself and that political gang!
We also remember the awards in imported Gold!
Then the IMF Bailout:
READ: "...IMF to Extend 100 Percent Debt Relief to Ghana
Under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative
Mrs. Alphecca Muttardy, the IMF Resident Representative in Ghana, issued the following statement on December 22 in Accra:
"Under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, the IMF Executive Board has approved debt relief for Ghana (see Press Release No 05/286). As part of the Initiative, the IMF will provide 100 percent relief on all debt incurred by Ghana to the IMF before January 1, 2005 that remains outstanding...//...This amounts to approximately US$381 million, or US$316 million excluding remaining assistance under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. This debt relief should become available in early January as soon as the remaining consents of the contributors to the PRGF Trust Subsidy Account have been received. The international community has made these additional resources available to help Ghana make progress toward its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)..."
(We will not provide the source - which you can easily find - because you never do!).
After all that debt forgiveness, still, the NPP left a Budget deficit that was over 14% of Ghana's GDP.
(Tell us what percentage of the GDP was the deficit that you claim Nkrumah left Ghana, and account for expenses and benefits you are still enjoying.
The case about judgement debts is another matter for which your recent essay did a poor job in covering, even from the angle you self-selected.
ITEM: BUT, as we say in our latest essay, "...the government of the day, is the government of the day!..."
Please read our essay again, if you need to!
Kwabena Yeboah 8 years ago
These are some of the substantive issues for national discourse only if we as a nation can get past the pervading senseless partisan politics of NPP and NDC.
As they say, the only two sure things in life are death and taxe ... read full comment
These are some of the substantive issues for national discourse only if we as a nation can get past the pervading senseless partisan politics of NPP and NDC.
As they say, the only two sure things in life are death and taxes, and to think that our constitution provides protection to those who can afford to pay taxes the most, is a national catastrophe. As I have said many times in this forum, the 1992 Constitution is a complete aberration to our sensibilities, and only a dastardly self-centered buffoon in the person of JJ Rawlings could oversee the promulgation of such document.
This document since its inception has been subject to abuse by Rawlings himself, because it was designed to feed the whims and caprices of one and only one man - JJ Rawlings. Where in the world would one find a constitution devoid of checks and balances. It is only in Ghana. The Executive (the Presidency) controls the purse (the Consolidated Account) and makes appointments of all executive positions in government. Ghana's parliament (the peoples' representatives) is absolutely toothless. In essence, the Executive is untouchable.
Unless we completely alter the 1992 constitution, we as a people can kiss progress and good government goodbye because rogues like JJ Rawlings, JA Kufuor, John Mahama will not relent in their thieving ways. What we need is British Westminister constitution where true power will reside in the fulcrum of parliament.
This is what we need to talk about as a nation, and I personally applaud Prof. Lungu for bringing this to the fore.
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
Kwabena Yeboah,
Thanks for your comment!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings!
Kwabena Yeboah,
Thanks for your comment!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings!
francis kwarteng 8 years ago
Prof. Lungu,
I just got the opportunity to comment.
Brilliant as usual. I can only hope the policy makers are listening to you and planning to make good use of your ideas. That is all we need.
Thanks for another exc ... read full comment
Prof. Lungu,
I just got the opportunity to comment.
Brilliant as usual. I can only hope the policy makers are listening to you and planning to make good use of your ideas. That is all we need.
Thanks for another excellent write-up.
Have a great week.
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
Yes, this is important business.
Reluctantly, we had to even write Ghanaweb early this morning to fix the "Error" thing on the Comments box, so people can add comments, and allow others to respond.
Our sense is, more th ... read full comment
Yes, this is important business.
Reluctantly, we had to even write Ghanaweb early this morning to fix the "Error" thing on the Comments box, so people can add comments, and allow others to respond.
Our sense is, more than 95% of Ghanaians do not know about the tax free benefits.
In fact, there is one Ph.D holder, a frequent contributor to multiple online platforms, who only found out about that problem in 2014, last year.
Sadly, and strangely, the IMF and all the funding organizations are silent on this one, possibly because it is what Ghanaians "want" by way of that darn Rawlings Constitution(s).
We will republish!
Greetings!
francis kwarteng 8 years ago
Prof. Lungu,
Thanks for your resourcefulness.
It is deeply appreciated.
Continue to educate us, as always.
Thanks.
Prof. Lungu,
Thanks for your resourcefulness.
It is deeply appreciated.
Continue to educate us, as always.
Thanks.
spartacus 8 years ago
all Ghanaians should rise and fight so that every body pays taxes. also nobody except maybe the president and vice should retire on their salaries. afterall these folks take fat salaries and should be comfortable in retireme ... read full comment
all Ghanaians should rise and fight so that every body pays taxes. also nobody except maybe the president and vice should retire on their salaries. afterall these folks take fat salaries and should be comfortable in retirement. politicians are thieves
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
spartacus,
Thanks!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings as well!
spartacus,
Thanks!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings as well!
Fleetwood Mac 8 years ago
Ok, this is the full article with the tax thing. Yes, let us see the revised version concentrating on the non-tax paying bit. And let us see it on all relevant sites. I don't think many people know that the President of the R ... read full comment
Ok, this is the full article with the tax thing. Yes, let us see the revised version concentrating on the non-tax paying bit. And let us see it on all relevant sites. I don't think many people know that the President of the Republic does not pay taxes. I didn't know that!
This is gross injustice indeed. That is why everybody wants to enter parliament and politics. They go around begging for our votes and when they get there, they lord it over us. And we call their wives First this, Second that, Third so... And give them tonnes of respect and they talk to us anyhowly.
We are not serious because our leaders are not serious. All of us should sacrifice to make our country work and move it out of poverty. This cannot be done when our leaders don't pay taxes and have lots of benefits - houses, free petrol, garden boys, money even for tv and dresses. Every senior govt official in Ghana has tonnes of benefits. There are still garden boys in Ghana - young boys who should be in school!
Are we serious at all? Last year I went to Ghana and in Accra, someone came to drop his ward at a private school in a clearly marked police jeep. The only concession he gave was not to have put on the siren to clear the way.
As a poor country, we are the ones who should be taking drastic measures yet we have political office holders who don't pay taxes! And we hope to be developed one day! We lie bad.
Get the final paper!
www.GhanHero.com/Visions, under
Prof Lungu Says...
Monkey Dey Work, AMissah Attas Dey Chop!
The NDC government inherited the governing philosophy of Kwame Nkrumah wherein the national resources became the property of the Supreme Leader, to be wastefully disbursed to his cronies at will.
If in doubt, count the num ...
read full comment
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law,
Thanks for your comments.
We've observed and concluded that you go around making comments under "Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law", "Mahmoud" (i.e., $1 billion), etc.!
From your comment on our curren ...
read full comment
These are some of the substantive issues for national discourse only if we as a nation can get past the pervading senseless partisan politics of NPP and NDC.
As they say, the only two sure things in life are death and taxe ...
read full comment
Kwabena Yeboah,
Thanks for your comment!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings!
Prof. Lungu,
I just got the opportunity to comment.
Brilliant as usual. I can only hope the policy makers are listening to you and planning to make good use of your ideas. That is all we need.
Thanks for another exc ...
read full comment
Yes, this is important business.
Reluctantly, we had to even write Ghanaweb early this morning to fix the "Error" thing on the Comments box, so people can add comments, and allow others to respond.
Our sense is, more th ...
read full comment
Prof. Lungu,
Thanks for your resourcefulness.
It is deeply appreciated.
Continue to educate us, as always.
Thanks.
all Ghanaians should rise and fight so that every body pays taxes. also nobody except maybe the president and vice should retire on their salaries. afterall these folks take fat salaries and should be comfortable in retireme ...
read full comment
spartacus,
Thanks!
Going forward, we may slightly revise this essay and publish it as many times as necessary, until Mr. Mahama acts, or there is a change in government!
Greetings as well!
Ok, this is the full article with the tax thing. Yes, let us see the revised version concentrating on the non-tax paying bit. And let us see it on all relevant sites. I don't think many people know that the President of the R ...
read full comment