The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on President Akufo-Addo to address a number of key issues that threaten the socio-economic survival of people within the Ashanti Region.
The NDC’s call comes at a time the president is on a four-day working tour of the region.
Among other things, they stressed that recent closure of shops by traders in the Central Business District of Adum is a cause for concern noting that it is a known truth that the local economy of the region thrives on commerce.
The Ashanti Regional Communications Officer for the NDC, Abass Nurudeen, emphasised that this singular act by the traders is a vote of no confidence in the president’s economic policies.
“It is a known truth that the local economy of the Region thrives on commerce. As the business community struggles to deal with difficulties from multiple fronts – high import duties, already-burdening tax regime and other unfriendly policies of your government, you have unleashed a ‘Tax Police’ on them.
“Having introduced VAT flat rate of 3%, having increased VAT by 5% (making NHIL levy and GETFUND levy straight taxes), having extended the duration of the 5% National Fiscal Stabilization Levy and the 2% Special Import Levies beyond 2017, all in your first term, you succeeded in moving Ghana from taxation to more taxation.”
While asking the president to apologise to the Adum traders and withdraw the ‘tax Police forthwith’ they further called for a spirited fight against galamsey.
“Today, ‘galamsey’ has become a free-for-all activity for MMDCE’s and Regional Executives of your party led by your Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako aka ‘Wuntumi’. You have seen and heard reports, and in some cases, incontrovertible evidence of this official complicity in the illegal mining menace, yet you have turned a blind eye on same and refused to act, much to the disappointment of many stakeholders in the Region, including our highly revered King, Otumfour Osei Tutu II.”
The NDC therefore requested the dismissal of the Bosome Freho DCE as well as the arrest and prosecution of Chairman Wontumi over their alleged involvement in galamsey.
Accusing President Akufo-Addo of depriving the Ashanti Region of the much-needed road network that would have accelerate development, Abass Nurudeen listed some bad roads in Kwabre East Constituency, Manso Nkwanta, Manso Adubia, Odotobri and Bosome Freho.
“Mr. President, these are some of the vexed matters that the good people of the Ashanti Region look forward to have you address, the NDC stated.
“We in the NDC will be following your ill-fated tour with eagle eyes and we can assure you that any falsehood, including attempts to claim ownership of certain projects started by the erstwhile President Mahama/NDC administration as your own, will be swiftly exposed”, said the NDC’s statement.
