Cigarettes Should Attract More Taxes

Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, the Publican of the Brotherman Pub in Kumasi, has called on the government to be circumspect in increasing taxes on drinks and food, because the two are indispensable to livelihoods.

“Taxes on food and drinks should not go up too much, as they contribute to the very existence of man,” he said.

According to him, it would rather be better if cigarettes are highly taxed, because they are injurious to health, and that high taxes on cigarettes would also go a long way to discourage people who indulge in the practice of smoking and save the nation the cost of supporting health delivery at huge costs.

Mr. Yeboah explained that if drinks and food are highly taxed, service providers in the industry would be compelled to lay off workers and contribute to the creation of unemployment in the country.

Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, who was adjudged Best Drinking Bar Operator for 2017 by the Ghana Tourism Authority, has appealed to the government to consider his recommendation and make food and drinks less expensive in taxes.

The renowned Kumasi Publican also bemoaned the presence and active involvement of foreigners in the retail industry in the country, which, by law, is reserved for indigenes.

He cited the sale of clothes openly by foreign nationals who hawk these products at cheaper prices to the indigenes at the expense of the local manufacturing companies.

Mr. Yeboah drew the attention of the government and concerned authorities to the involvement of these foreigners, particularly, Malians and Chadians, in the importation of and supply of Tramodol, hard drugs and other contraband goods.

The Proprietor of Brotherman Spot also condemned the importation of poultry, and called on the government to encourage and support the cultivation of maize to feed and grow the local poultry farms.

He suggested a tax exemption on the local production of poultry, and increase those that are imported to boost local production.

Touching on illegal mining activities, Mr. Yeboah attributed the massive destruction and degradation of water bodies and the environment to the involvement of Chinese nationals and the use of heavy machines and equipment, noting that if small-scale mining had been strictly made the preserve of Ghanaians, as the law provides, the environment and water bodies would have been more desirable than what is pertaining now to the detriment of the health of Ghanaians.