According to Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, the average Ghanaian would not find much of the government’s 2024 budget because it does not meet their fundamental needs.
Speaking on Saturday, November 18, 2023, on TV3’s Key Points show, Mr. Kpebu claimed that the budget was designed to reward party factions rather than address the existing financial strain on the average person.
“If you couldn’t take off taxes from the fuel so that it will bring down the prices so that times will improve, then for them all this is basically not relevant for them.
“Of course, these are contracts that they will give to a few party faithful, a few party faithful because I have met a number of NPP supporters who are crying because they were never given contracts as promised.
“So the budget, yes, they said they are projected to spend GH₵227 billion but the ordinary man is saying how much is in it for me? It is going to big party people who will come and take sole-sourced contracts etc right?
“So to that extent, that budget doesn’t mean much to us. As long as we buy koko for three cedis, kenkey for five cedis, fish for ten cedis et cetera, yam, rice and all those things, it doesn’t mean much,” he stated.
He continued by saying that among other things, the government should have taken into account the taxes levied on petroleum products because they contribute to the rise in the cost of goods and services.
“You didn’t take off taxes from petroleum products and you know in the price build up over 40% is due to taxes. So if in your budget you couldn’t take off any taxes that will make sure that the price of petrol will come down, and you know when fuel comes down it affects a lot of sectors of the economy; transport, food, etc, health, everywhere,”he noted.
Ghanapublisher.com
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