Massive Economic Hardship; Hallmark Of An Insensitive Government

The Forum for Progressive Ghana (fpg) is highly disappointed on the 17.5% tax on petroleum products as contained in the 2015 budget which was read to parliament on 19th November, 2014 by the finance minister Seth Emmanuel Terkper. It clearly depicts how insensitive the government is towards the plight of Ghanaians.

On Wednesday, 19th November, 2014, the finance minster, Seth Emmanuel Terkper read the 2015 budget which has it theme "Transformational Agenda: Securing the bright medium term prospects of the Economy". In the 2015 budget highlights was a 17.5% increments on petroleum products which we termed it as unacceptable and unfair to Ghanaians considering the economic quagmire we already find ourselves in. As much as we all attest to the fact that we need to sacrifice for our dear nation, making life unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaians through wanton increment of taxes makes it more of punishment to Ghanaians than a sacrifice.

It is evident that crude oil prices worldwide has seen a whooping decrease over the years and Ghanaians were expecting nothing short of fuel price reduction but increasing taxes on petroleum prices will only worsen the plight of Ghanaians.

From the 2015 budget, Industry and service sectors which employ majority of the working population saw a decline of 7.6% in 2013 to 4.6% in 2014 and 9.6% in 2013 to 4.6% in 2014 respectively which according to the 2015 budget statements, is attributed to energy supply shortfalls, deteriorating commodity prices, low productivity among others. These sectors hugely depend on petroleum products in their operations and a tax increment on petroleum products will see a further decline in those sectors which is highly unacceptable. Industries are already collapsing and workers are being laid off day in day out and fpg strongly believes that this tax increment will only worsen the plight of Ghanaians.

The Forum for Progressive Ghana is of the view that, there are a lot of areas government can concentrate on in raising revenue for its activities and not wanton imposing of tax which will further make the living conditions of Ghanaians unbearable. The government should be very serious and show commitment in tackling corruption which is the bane of our economy now, because the nation is losing a lot of money out of this ungodly acts by some unscrupulous people who take advantage of government's lackadaisical attitudes towards the combating corruption to enrich themselves at the expense of the nation.

Ghanaians are already battling with sky rocketing tariff increments and this increment fpg believe will be unbearable for the masses. Fpg is therefore pleading with the government to take a second look at this and rather decrease the prices of fuel which is long overdue to due the decline in crude oil prices worldwide. We should bear in mind that, with this increment, the cost will undoubtedly be transferred to the final consumer who will bear the cost fully. The government should bear in mind that, Ghanaians voted for them to alleviate our sufferings and not further deepening it.

Forum for Progressive Ghana (fpg) is of the conviction that the government will listen and expunge the 17.5% increment on petroleum products as contained in the 2015 budget.

Thanks

Signed:
· Adam Badaru Askanda, Convener (026 660 8175)

· Adu Tino Clement, P. R. O. (0249231158)