Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Minister of Finance, has said that no amount of demonstrations would make the government depart from its policy to make life in rural areas worth living.

Addressing a fund-raising dinner organised by the Agona West constituency of National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the week-end, Dr Botchwey said the value-added tax (VAT) was introduced to generate funds to bridge the development gap between the rural areas and the urban centres. He said people who were calling for withdrawal of the VAT were

those who enjoy good drinking water, electricity, good roads and had their children in good schools.

The Minister said "it is not enough to call for withdrawal of the VAT without suggesting alternate means of raising funds for national development".

Dr Botchwey said it was unfortunate for the people capitalize on hardships brought about by misapplication of the new tax system to champion their political ambition. If the government had wanted cheap popularity it would have introduced VAT only after the 1996 elections.