Cassiel Ato Forson
The above-titled headline is not mimicking the lyrics of a reggae tune. It is about a serious unfolding situation in our country.
We cannot tackle the subject for today’s commentary without recalling the heady days of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) propaganda ahead of the 2024 elections.
The then opposition had concluded that the best way to oust the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was to engage in mammoth propaganda, something they did in style.
To state that they lied between their teeth unashamedly is to be economical with the truth.
While we knew that lies or propaganda do not last as the truth will soon be out, we did not expect this to come so soon.
The Finance Minister designate, who told the appointments committee interviewing him that no new taxes would be introduced, has under a certificate of urgency, demanded parliamentary approval for a new tax. Will wonders ever end? Not under the prevailing circumstances in our country with the NDC at the helms.
That the future is indeed pregnant cannot be doubted.
So much water is passing under the bridge of time that the NDC is being swept away by the strong currents of the lies they told Ghanaians.
How do they manage the reality which is dawning on them today?
E-Levy was bastardised with all the force at the disposal of the NDC, with some academics offering them covering fire for a future reward.
They have been rewarded with top jobs for the dirty lies they spread under the direction of the NDC.
The ‘dumsor levy’ has turned pro-NDC Ghanaians into reckoners or calculators, skewed of course.
Today, if apologists of the NDC who could not stomach a flat 1% levy on Mobile Money (MoMo) transactions where 1% percent of 200 cedis meant a charge of 2 cedis, just a few months ago, now say paying 1 cedi on every litre of fuel is better, then we live in interesting times indeed. Anyway, engaging in illogicalities and tendentious miscalculation is part of the NDC propaganda.
Is it the calculation that they cannot do or this is in keeping with their propaganda and drenched behaviour?
How else does one say a fee of 10 cedis on the purchase of 100 litres at a cost of about 600 cedis is cheaper than bearing E-Levy?
No one readily embraces taxation, but taxes still remain the most viable ways for funding all nations. This the NDC knows – in and out of power – yet they raised hell while preaching the wailing and gnashing of teeth that E-Levy is next to evil, and taxes cannot be trusted with the government they opposed. They made the country take one step forward only to take two steps backward.
We have lived long enough to hear today that after all John Mahama and his band of dollar-sharing officials can also tax the populace.
We shall keep watching for the next instance when the emperor’s clothes would be taken off.