OPINION: Egya Atta�s Who-Born-Dog Taxes

The Akans have a proverb that �ano a, yede gye bosia no, enye eno na yede tua� which loosely means that the assurances, the pledges and the humility which one exhibits when looking for a loan is not the same when it comes to the payment of the loan. This proverb perhaps is peculiar to Ghana only since the behaviour which is exhibited to creditors by many debtors may be very different in other countries. Oh yes, when a Ghanaian owes you and you make attempts to get your money, look at the behaviour. �Please give me a break, am I the only one in debt? Even the government of Ghana is in debt, why are you not allowing me to have some peace? This small money that I owe you, you want the whole world to know that I owe you, after all how much is the money for which reason you are not allowing me to have my sleep? These and many more epithets could be thrown at you in a manner that makes the debtor innocent and you the creditor the guilty one. In other jurisdictions, people who owe see their indebtedness as the biggest problem they have on earth and do anything to ensure that the debts are cleared so they can go on with their lives. In Ghana we can go to the extent of telling the creditor �ma mendwen meho, na kafo didi�, literally meaning give me some peace, after all the debtor must eat. You see, if you should go back and recollect what that same person said when the loan was being sought; you wonder if it is the same person. When I hear functionaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) speaking, whether in their sober moods or at their propaganda best, on some of the issues today, I ask myself whether they are the same people who just a little over a year ago saw nothing wrong in the policies of the previous administration as regards the economic management of this nation. Some of them I sympathise with, others I see as mere blockheads who churn out propaganda out of ignorance. One of the endowed qualities the (NDC) consistently publicised about then candidate Prof. John Evans Atta Mills was the fact that he is not only a lawyer, but a tax expert as well. Prof. Atta Mills, conscious of his background and knowledge in taxes and taxation, promised the good people of Ghana that he was going to reduce taxes drastically should he be elected the president of this country. We are all aware of the promises of Prof. Atta Mills to reduce fuel prices drastically when elected to office as the president. He again promised to reduce other taxes to put money in the pockets of the ordinary Ghanaian. Even though I told myself that this type of promise is merely for political votes and wished that Ghanaians would not buy it, it was purchased like hot cake and Prof. Atta Mills became the President of this country. Yes as a tax expert, as he has been touted to be, he knows that taxation as a fiscal policy has both vertical and horizontal applications. Government may increase taxes to generate more revenue to execute its service delivery function to the general population. The same government may reduce taxes to put more money in the pockets of the citizenry to engender consumption, which increases production and will also lead to corporate institutions maximizing their productive capacities, further expanding them, and by extension expand and grow the economy. Tax expert Prof. Atta Mills has chosen to drain Ghanaians through taxation in a manner which is unprecedented in the history of this country. Prof. Atta Mills� recent tax policy is inhuman, cruel, devilish and savage. In fact, this is the most insensitive President to have ever ruled this country, next to former President Jerry John Rawlings. Or is it a question of WHO BORN CRAB? After all is PRESIDENT Atta Mills not a product of Paapa JAY and in whom (Atta-Mills) he trusted? How on earth can a so-called caring President impose 20% tax on water when he is aware that we live in a society where the normal source of potable water supply to the majority of the citizenry is as unpredictable as the day Jesus Christ will come back to earth? Many homes in this country depend on satchet and bottled water to quench their thirst. Indeed, because of the irregular flow of water from the taps, many offices depend on satchet and bottled water to keep alive. I understand in some parts of the country, and even in many health institutions throughout the country, patients on admission have to buy satchet water to enable the hospital staff to attend to them. Some people, I understand, buy satchet water to wash their bodies because for months not a drop of water has come to their homes through the taps. And yet a caring President, instead of addressing the problem that is confronting the people, decides to compound them by imposing taxes on this crucial commodity? Haba, Egya Atta, where is your sense of sympathy, sincerity and honesty? Look at how much parents have to pay these days if they hire commercial taxis to drive their children to and from their various schools by using the toll bridges because they have no alternative routes. Even akpeteshie, the drink for us the poor men, has a 20% tax on it, why? A ball of Fanti kenkey is now Gp40, 4000 cedis in the old currency. A tot of mahogany bitters has risen from Gp20, formerly 2000 cedis, to Gp25, that is 2500 cedis in the old currency here in my village since you announced your 20% tax on the stuff. Egya Atta, as a result of the absence of pre-mix petrol, whether blue or green for the fishermen, fish prices have also gone up by 20%, in line with the 20% tax on akpeteshie, which is also a very big favourite of my father the fisherman. Oh yes, how do you think we manage on the sea in the night? It is this very important drink which becomes our fishing companion, since your former students also had their companion. Now Egya Atta, did you lie to us when you said you will reduce taxes and tariffs so everything will be bordooooooo for us, or it is some opposition people who want to make you unpopular and are pushing the taxes on us? Watch out, I hear that the opposition wants to increase electricity tariffs by 150%, have you also heard that, Egya Atta? Eeei, as for this one, like igo be proper wahala for this country ooo. So so tax you dey bring, work no dey, kudi baabu, wetin make we do, eh Fanti koyoo, mini saane ne? Already we are paying taxes for disposing of those things from our tommy, when you want to wee wee, tax dey for top, tax here, tax there, tax everywhere. Is this the I care for you? Is this the philosophy of putting money into people�s pockets? Dear reader, all these things are happening because of the death of our Messiah. Let me take this opportunity to announce the Messiah�s death. The Ebusuapanyin of Aluta Continua, Osiabontenhene Kwesi Pratt 1, of Apam, Kotobabi and currently resident at classy residential area of Ashongman, wishes to announce to the general public the death of their beloved child, COMMITTEE FOR JOINT ACTION, whose sudden death occurred after January 7, 2009. Burial ceremonies will be held at the Castle Gardens, Osu, in Accra. Chief Mourners: Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana; Dr. Omane Boama, Deputy Minister, Science and Environment; Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister, Information; Ama Benyiwa Doe, Minister, Central Region; Brother Sammy Photo and Baba Jamal, all of Koforidua. Special guest of honour Dr. Dr. Pastor Archbishop J.J Rawlings, founder of the New Divine Church (NDC). All Fire Extinguishers are cordially invited to quench any fire between the Founder of NDC and the Ruler of NDC and also to kill the WHO BORN DOG TAXES.