Exempt Ghanaian Agriculture Manufacturers From Taxes—Says Richmond Frimpong -Agriculture Journalist

Ghana's agriculture sector which has been the main economic driven force of the country has consistently fallen despite the move by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to use agriculture wealth as a springboard for the economic development of the country. Successive governments have shown assiduity in revamping the sector, hitherto, grappling it with taxes, less incentives, untimely release of working fund and inadequate supply of subsidize inputs.

The country produces a variety of crops for both local and international market for local currency and foreign exchange rate in its raw state. The situation has not been helpful to the key actors within the industry both formal and informal. If Ghana had utilizes its abundance resource and raw materials in a more refine way, Ghana could have been alleviated from the poverty it’s battling with as a nation.

The attempt by the government to impose taxes on agric industry is in a bad fate and smiles a doom for the industry. Under the new law income tax law agro processing businesses which are conducted wholly in the country and prior to the new law had a 5 year tax holiday, will pay 1 percent tax during the 5 year tax holiday and subsequently pay the standard 25 percent corporate tax.

Per this, I want the government to rescind its decision of imposing taxes on agric industry, which is ambling lately.

Records have it that the current growth of agriculture stood at 0.4% despite it numerous employment opportunities and contribution to the gross domestic product of the country.

It is our fervent hope that, government takes the keen interest in resurrecting the dead sector by encouraging and motivating private sector developers to build more agro- processing industries to process and refine the raw materials into finished products to avoid future importation of agric products into the country.

Ghana have a vast arable land, produces the best of crops, yet, unable to feed the country, which needs a consented effort in reviving the sector by ensuring standardization and efficacy in whipping up interest of potential investors.

I therefore pray the government to grant Ghanaian investors free tax holiday on agric manufacturing industry which vision and mission seeks to turn our raw materials into finished product for local and international market.

Thank You
Long live Ghana
Long live Ghana’s’ Agriculture sector
Signed……………….

Richmond Frimpong
Agricultural journalist
Fox fm, Kumasi
0268909020
golgend11@yahoo. com