Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed surprise at the multiple levies and taxes imposed on imported vehicles at the port.
Addressing members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in Accra, the former president, however, lashed out at the traders’ union for not joining the NDC minority to speak to voice their concerns about the nature of the economy under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, especially in 2019.
That notwithstanding, former President Mahama spoke specifically about the importation of vehicles and the excessive taxes importers have to deal with.
“[A friend brought] a car and I was just looking at the charges. This is a 2023 Lexus, these are the charges; 20% import duty, after that import VAT, then processing fees, then ECOWAS levy, then vehicle examination fee, then network charges, then network charge VAT, then network charge COVID,” the former President read out the tax handles from his cellphone to the members of GUTA.
“I am shocked,” said Mr. Mahama.
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He continued, “Then Ghana Shippers Authority, then import NHIL, then network charge NHIL, then GHS disinfection fee, then MOTI import declaration fee, special import levy, Ghana export import bank levy, Ghana Education trust fund, Ghana education trust fund network charge, African Union import levy, then COVID health recovery levy, then certification, then IRS 2021.”
The former President further noted that the over-age penalty for the car was zero because “it’s a new car.”
He said, “If it were to be an over-aged car, it would have been 23 [taxes].”
The former president also expressed concerns about the high cost of services due to the high cost of items.
Meanwhile, the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, underscored that the association has missed the leadership of the former president.
He said, “With this meeting, I believe that traders have missed former president John Mahama and they don’t also forget the fact that our national head office, the secretariat, was given to us by you [former president Mahama].”
Mr. Obeng, on behalf of GUTA, also expressed their appreciation to the former president for revising the investment law to prevent abuses.
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