2024 Budget: Gov’t, Ofori-Atta swerve us after consultation — GUTA President bemoans

The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), has said that after meetings with the government ahead of the 2024 budget presented to Parliament on Wednesday, November 15, their inputs were not taken as promised by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

“We were consulted, and we gave our inputs, and we thought that they were going to be considered because we made very meaningful inputs, but our demands were not met, especially those of us in the trading community.” President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, spoke on Joy News’ PM Express.

The GUTA president, however, questioned why the government insists on keeping levies such as the COVID-19 levy when the pandemic is no more.

“We also demanded that the COVID levy should be removed because it’s a nuisance tax. There’s nothing more nuisance than the COVID levy. It came to solve a specific purpose and should be out of the table. It’s as simple as that” he argued.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta during his presentation of the 2024 budget statement in Parliament announced some before, cushioning businesses and Ghanaians in general.

Some reliefs prioritized by the government include the extension of the zero rates of VAT on locally manufactured African prints, sanitary pads, and locally assembled vehicles, as well as waivers on import duties for electric vehicles and agricultural machinery.

Source: Kapital Online Team//2023