- Parliament is caught in a deadlock regarding tax breaks
- These tax breaks are essential to attract investments.
- Markin accuses the Minority of hypocrisy
Parliament is caught in a deadlock regarding tax breaks for businesses participating in the government’s “One District, One Factory” initiative.
Majority Pushes for Support: The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, urged the Minority party to collaborate with the government on boosting the economy.
He argued that approving a US$350 million tax waiver request for 42 companies is crucial. Markin highlighted the challenging global economic climate and emphasized that these tax breaks are essential to attract investments.
Minority Expresses Concerns: The opposing Minority party is against the tax waivers. They argue that the lost revenue is needed for the national budget and raise concerns that the program might benefit companies with close ties to the government.
Accusations of Hypocrisy: Markin accuses the Minority of hypocrisy, pointing out their past approval of a US$832 million tax break for the Meridian Port Services project.
Long-Term Vision: The Majority Leader emphasizes the long-term vision behind the “One District, One Factory” policy. He explains the government’s goal of creating an industrialized economy where Ghanaians can find jobs in the private sector, reducing dependence on public sector employment.
Decision on Hold: With both sides presenting strong arguments, a resolution on the tax breaks is on hold. Parliament will likely revisit the issue when they reconvene in two weeks.
