General News of Sunday, 2 April 2023

Source: GNA

Excessive tax policies may highten cost of living - GFL

GFL Secretary, Abraham Koomson GFL Secretary, Abraham Koomson

The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has cautioned the Government to be mindful of overburdening the manufacturing sector with tax policies as that may result in widespread unemployment, increased cost of living, and endanger national security.

Mr. Abraham Koomson, the GFL Secretary, in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, said with the current financial crisis and taking into account the plight of workers, any additional tax burden would collapse the industrial sector.

He urged Parliament, pursuant to its constitutional mandate, to guarantee good governance for the benefit of the ordinary person by monitoring the Executive's spending.

He said a petition was submitted to the Speaker of Parliament on February 3, 2023, drawing his attention to the numerous taxes that already distressed companies were paying and the damage additional taxes would cause to investments.

He said organized labor considered it appropriate to draw Parliament’s attention to the economic challenges the poor and vulnerable faced and the need to avert that as well as any social upheavals in the country.

The Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Union of Traders Association, Food and Beverage Association of Ghana, and Importers and Exporters Association have expressed similar concerns about the tax imposed on businesses by the government.