The financial crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes which would only undermine the economic growth required to regain our strength – George N. Bush
As believers of the Catholic Faith, we follow the events of the day as pronounced by our priests with keen interest. One great mouthpiece of the church is the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC). The last one was held at Sunyani on the theme: “Fostering the growth of the Catholic Church in Ghana through Collaborative Ministry”, from November 6 to18, 2023.
At the end of the plenary assembly, the Bishops issued a communique signed by Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference.
Paragraph 8 of the Communique states: ‘persistent challenges’ as a national concern. It reveals as follows: “In previous communiques, we catalogued a number of challenges that confront us as a nation. The numerous challenges persist.
“These challenges include high cost of living, high inflation, youth unemployment, ‘institutionalised’ bribery and corruption, abuses in procurement practices, weak and ineffective institutions of governance, lack of patriotism, deplorable roads, carnage on our roads, poverty, galamsey, abandoned and unfinished government projects,
“the culture of impurity, examination malpractices, violence, intimidation, attack on media men and women, human trafficking and abductions. These challenges, in addition to the current global crisis have contributed to our current socio-economic situation.”
In Paragraph 9 of the Communique, the Bishops state: “We acknowledge the current global economic crisis, which has affected the growth of the economy of our country. We also appreciate the effort that the government has made so far to handle the impact of the crisis on Ghanaians.
“It is, however, true that we as a country have not been able to manage our economy well. This has contributed to the current economic woes in which we find ourselves. We have had to resort again to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The current economic hardships are becoming unbearable for Ghanaians. We call on government to take urgent steps to stabilise the economy to bring relief to many Ghanaians who have to bear with the current difficulties.”
Some of us would very much love to see that this government succeeds – and that is why we raise issues, point out mistakes for the government to sit up, and do the right thing. The Bishops, like Elijah, Isaiah and other biblical prophets of old have hit the nail on the head.
It is for the government to heed the call: manage the economy soundly and take the credit for itself. It should not be sloganeering and the adoption of knee-jerk solutions. Most Reverend John Bonaventure Kwofie, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Accra, is calling on Ghanaians to reflect on the kind of democracy we want to build for the progress of the country.
The Archbishop could not be pleased with the trend where politicians who are to guide the democratic and peaceful development of the country hardly tell the truth. The politicians’ voices are muffled because they worship their parties and hardly tell the truth.
Admittedly, to Archbishop Kwofie, the Catholic Church does not possess the magic wand to give solutions to all problems. However, he says, “We are not interested in causing confusion, when we speak, we speak for peace.”
The issue is, what does government say about the call to reduce its size? What about the issue of reviewing and removing all of the abuse related to benefits in Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana?
“(1) The salaries, allowances, facilities and privileges payable or available to (a) the Speaker and Deputy Speakers and members of Parliament (b) The Chief Justice and other Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature.
“(c) Auditor-General, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, his Deputies and the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator.
“(d) The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the other members of (i) A National Council for Higher Education howsoever described (ii) the Public Services Commission (iii) the National Commission for Civic Education; being expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund shall be determined by the President on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State.
“(2) The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities available to the President, the Vice President, the Chairman and the other Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers, being expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund, shall be determined by Parliament on the recommendations of the committee referred to, in Clause (1) of this article (3).For the purposes of this article, and except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, ‘salaries’ includes allowances, facilities, privileges and retiring benefits or awards.”
As a nation, we ought to think through a policy very carefully before adopting it, most especially those which have come into the country before. Wherefore, we have to re-look critically at the import restrictions bill on 22 commodities, including poultry, rice, sugar, guts (bladders and stomach of animals), poultry, animal vegetable oil, margarine, fruit juice, soft drink, mineral water, noodles and pasta, ceramic tiles.
Corrugated paper and paper board, mosquito coil and insecticides, soaps and detergent, motor cars, iron and steel, cement, polymers (plastics and plastic products), fish, clothing and apparel, and biscuits, canned tomatoes are also included. There is the need to carefully study the existing “Import Prohibitions” of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
It may not be a simple issue of helping the cedi appreciate or to help local industries or even to reduce inflation or increase government revenue. We should also take account of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) policy on trade. We should be reminded of the abuses identified by the Ollennu Committee in 1967.
Remember what happened when the E-levy was introduced. We do not expect anyone to be stiff-necked, obstinate or adamantine. We do not want a situation where people will justifiably say: “I told you so,” (recalling Bob Cole and Araba Stamp’s 1970 film).
We had touched on some of the issues before, without anyone taking note and making due corrections. There is no need to repeat them here. Our Bishops have spoken and we are all bound by their word.
We say Hallelujah to the advice given by a veteran journalist/ writer for toning down this article. Without the advice, we would have fired all cylinders, no matter whose ox is gored. But we hereby give due notice that it will be fire next time.
Africanus Owusu-Ansah
africanusoa@gmail.com