Ghanaian Actor/ Farmer and Politician John Dumelo, who represented the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as Candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the just ended general elections, has described the new tax introduced by the government to repay debts, which according to the Information Minister, will help bridge the gap between the country’s income and expenditure as deceptive.

He explained that it is deceptive and insensitive of the government to impose taxes on citizens over an initiative they constituted to ease the burden of Ghanaians in lockdown areas during a global crisis of COVID-19, something they have already claimed glory for.

Indicating that the free water supply and electricity was captured in almost all the COVID-19 updates by the President, as part of measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the virus, and to also ease the burden of Ghanaians especially in lockdown areas, so why must Ghanaians pay for something that has already been funded for and portrayed as a gesture? He questioned.

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has indicated that Ghanaians will have to pay for the free provision of water and electricity introduced by the government in 2020 as part of measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

President Akufo-Addo in April 2020, announced a free utility package for the vulnerable in the country to lessen the virus’ negative impact following a lockdown in Accra and Kumasi .

The President in his 21st address to the nation, also said “With the continuing difficulties occasioned by the pandemic, I want to state that government intends to continue to support the most vulnerable in our society.

But Hon. Oppong Nkrumah on the Monday edition of the PM: Express talk show, said “It was free to the people of Ghana at the time.”

According to him, the decision last year was because the pandemic was a looming crisis and the government had to improvise for the country’s well-being.

“When we say free electricity it doesn’t mean that the IPP producer is also going to say because the President has said free electricity I won’t charge for it”. He said.

The Information Minister stated categorically that, the government introduced free water and electricity at the time to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians when the corona virus pandemic stuck, but the citizens need to pay for the debts incurred as a result.

But the famous Ghanaian actor kum Politician John Dumelo, seemed not to understand the concept of paying back something that was meant to be free.

John Dumelo took to his official Twitter account to express his disappointment on the decision by the government.

“ When you lie to people that you are giving them free things, only to come back and say, “Oh remember what I gave you”. It’s time to pay, that’s deception “ he wrote.

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Source: Editor/www.newslinegh.com

 

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