Osei Nyarko to Minority: E-Levy will help construct more roads
The legislator has given the assurance that the adoption of the bill will automatically result in massive road and infrastructural projects
- “We cannot resort in borrowing everyday to construct our roads. How much can we borrow to construct our roads in a year? We can’t even borrow up to 2 billion dollars to construct our roads. That is why it is important that when we’re discussing the issue of E-Levy, we should discuss it dispassionately. We shouldn’t put emotions in the discussion of E-Levy.”
Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the chairman of the roads and transport committee of Parliament has urged his colleagues from the Minority side to support the Electronic Transaction Levy Bill when it is re-introduced to the House for consideration.
The legislator has given the assurance that the adoption of the bill will automatically result in a massive road and infrastructural rollout to address the numerous challenges confronting Ghanaians after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Osei Nyarko addressed the press after Parliament approved a 350 million Euro commercial agreement for the construction of a bridge over the Afram River at Adawso-Ekyi Amanfrom and other road networks in the area.
He said: “Ministry of finance, GoG projects, the government is owing contractors not less than about three billion and in fact, if you put everything together, we’re talking about eight billion Cedis and you ask yourself, how much was even allocated to the ministry for 2021 and also budget allocation for 2022?”
Call for help
“Even if they want to use all these monies to service all those debts, they can’t even service 50% of it. So, it is important that once we’re calling for the government to construct roads, we should also assist the government in raising enough revenue in resolving those problems.”
Enough of the borrowing
“We cannot resort in borrowing everyday to construct our roads. How much can we borrow to construct our roads in a year? We can’t even borrow up to two billion dollars to construct our roads. That is why it is important that when we’re discussing the issue of E-Levy, we should discuss it dispassionately. We shouldn’t put emotions in the discussion of E-Levy,” he stated.
Demonstration against E-Levy
A group calling itself Coalition of Concerned Ghanaians is to embark on a demonstration on Thursday (10 February) over the controversial E-Levy bill.
The group comprising various political parties, civil society organisations and other identifiable groups met with the police on Tuesday to agree on routes for the demonstration.
A statement issued by the group said “all and sundry feeling the pinch and bearing the brunt of insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration as well those who will feel the severe impact of the E-levy, if passed to join other well-meaning Ghanaians at the Obra Spot at 7:00am on Thursday, February 10, 2022 for the Yentua demonstration.”
“The is a clarion call and a civic duty to fight for our survival and that of generations yet unborn. This is our country and the onus is on us, as citizens to make it a better place,” the statement added.
Nicholas Brown
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