Association of Head Porters popularly called ‘Kayayeis’ has disclosed that it will soon march to the Flagstaff House to show appreciation to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for abolishing levies imposed on them by local authorities.
This comes on the back of the 2017 budget presented on the floor of Parliament by the finance minister Ken Ofori Atta.
Head porters are people who are mostly spotted carrying stuffs for people to earn some income.
Speaking with Kwame Adinkra on Abusua FM’s Abusua Nkommo, the President of the head porters Adiza Zongo popularly called ‘Pioneer’ expressed appreciation to the President for lifting the levy burden off them.
According to her, the small profits ‘Kayayeis’ generate from their work are collected by local authorities on daily basis.
Adiza complained that ‘Kayayeis’ are charged 50pesewas amounting to GHC180.00 yearly adding that they are always harassed by local authorities even if they don’t have money to pay tickets.
She disclosed that she was touched when the President called her on phone to enquire about peculiar problems ‘Kayayeis’ are faced in the country.
The President of head porters association explained that abolishing of the levy was used as one of the campaign messages of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2016 elections.
‘We are so happy, we have even composed a song for the President. We have been in celebration mood since yesterday. We shall soon march to the Flagstaff House to express our appreciation to the President for abolishing the levy, we thank him for putting smiles on our faces, he has delivered his campaign promise,’ she expressed joy.
She said she has explained to ‘Kayayeis’ that the abolished levy will not take effect now but would go through Parliament before its implemented, calling on ‘Kayayeis” to corporate with local authorities when they are approached.
She called on the President to implement the one-district-one factory policy to create jobs for the teeming youth and build a house for ‘Kayayeis’ in the country.
The Akufo-Addo’s government virtually abolished taxes which were implemented by the erstwhile Mahama administration including spare parts, domestic airline tickets, special import duty, reduction in public lighting from 5% to 2% and others.