Crimson with so much hope, the Minority in Parliament went to the House well-prepared in an anticipation of an upward adjustment in Valued Added Tax in the mid-year budget review which was to be read by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Hundreds of placards bearing anti-Akufo-Addo sentiments and those targeting the supposed VAT increase were shipped into Parliament House by the opposition Members of Parliament and their assigns. Some of the placards read; Akufo-Addo is insensitive to the plights of Ghanaians, Reject wicked Akufo-Addo in 2020, Akufo-Addo has deceived us, We reject hikes in VAT, Bawumia has deceived us, What happened to your production mantra, etc. These and many more were boldly written on their prepared placards.
It would turn out that that dream of Value Added Tax (VAT) being adjusted upward was only a dream nursed by the opposition NDC as the Finance Minister failed to do their bidding for them. In the presentation of the 2018 mid-year budget review, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, contrary to the impression the Minority had created, rather reduced V.A.T from 17.5% to 12.5%.
This new turn of events would coerce the Minority to bury their prepared placards inside their pockets, bags and closets. The usual riotous commotions which accompany the reading of budget statements muffled and this could be traced to the disappointment they felt as a result of the no increment in the rate of VAT as read by the Finance Minister.
It was being bruited around that the 2018 mid-year budget review was going to capture an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) since, according to the NDC, was to rope inadequate cash to finance the Akufo-Addo-led government’s flagship programmes and policies. This would generate heated debates on radio and television, with calls to the people to reject any such move by the government.
Some opponents of the rumoured hike in VAT contended that Akufo-Addo, in the 90s, was at the forefront of those who were vehemently opposed to the introduction of VAT. This, they assert, led to a series of demonstrations which culminated in the deaths of some protesters. It would be unconscionable for the same person who opposed VAT to come to power to ask Ghanaians to pay more on VAT for development, according to members of the NDC.
Vowing to resist the move with their blood, the Minority armed themselves when going to Parliament, only to be disappointed as the ‘planned’ hike in VAT failed to make the headline. This would induce some members on the side of the Minority to drift into a dreamless slumber.
With hopes dashed, many of them prayed fervidly for Ken Ofori-Atta to hurry up with his presentation so that they could go into their chambers to nurse their bruised hopes and expectations.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
