Importers and Exporters Association Calls Bawumia’s Flat Tax Proposal a ‘Scam’ for Political Gain

Importers have long voiced grievances about port fees, urging the government to intervene on their behalf.

However, recent remarks by the flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Bawumia, have elicited varied responses from industry experts and economic analysts, prompting questions about the practicality and fairness of such a policy aimed at revitalizing Ghana’s tax system.

During a visit to Suame Magazine in Kumasi as part of his Ashanti region tour, he spoke to spare parts dealers, acknowledging their widespread concerns about the current tax structure and unveiling his proposal for a flat tax system.

Dr Bawumia said, “Ghana, our tax system is problematic just as the businessmen are complaining. So, I want to introduce a new tax system. This new tax system is called the flat tax system which is like the tithe you pay in church. If it is 10%, it is 10% for everyone.

“So, by 2025, we are going to begin the implementation of a new flat tax system for Ghana.”

“We will cut off every tax the GRA would have made you pay in 2025 so that we all start from ground zero. Tax amnesty in 2025,” he assured.

However, some industry players, such as Sampson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, believe that Dr. Bawumia’s statement was solely aimed at gaining political advantage.

Per his veiw, “this is not the first time the vice president has made sweet statements, coming from the vice president I think it is total scam. He just wants to sway us.”

He added “he cannot make it happen, because we are currently under ECOWAS common external tariff (CET) and an IMF program with conditionalities, So there is no way he is going to do anything to reduce revenue for government.”

Sampson asserts that there are alternative approaches available to alleviate the challenges faced by importers, which the NPP flagbearer has chosen to disregard.