We have already paid for COVID with our loved ones we lost, COVID levy insensitive

The Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini has described as insensitive new taxes, especially, the COVID-19 levy introduced by the government in the 2021 budget presented by the Majority Leader of Parliament on Friday, March 12, 2021.

According to him, Ghanaians had already paid for COVID-19 with the many lives lost and the numerous of businesses which folded up during the pandemic hence there was no need for the government to surcharge them any more for the pandemic which has caused the country and its citizen so much anguish.

“As if it is not enough that we have already paid for COVID by way of losing our loved ones and our businesses folding up, there is now a COVID levy for us to pay” he said.

“As a people, we have already paid for COVID, I believe, by the loved ones we have lost, by the businesses that have folded up but our government is introducing a levy for us to pay for it”.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), law maker was speaking on Key Point on TV3 on Saturday, March 13, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

“I mean, how much can one be insensitive, much more can one be insensitive,” he quizzed.

Mr Suhuyini was of the view that, the budget presented would not bring any hope for Ghanaian but only worsen the plight which were already in tatters due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov’t Introduce COVID-19 levy

The government Ghana led by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in  it 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy proposed  the introduction of a 1% COVID-19 Health levy to be charged on the National Health Insurance Scheme and VAT Flat rate, respectively, to cushion the government in its fight against the pandemic.

“To provide the requisite resources to sustain the implementation of these measures, Government is proposing the introduction of a COVID-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate,” the budget statement reads.

The budget was themed “Economic Revitalisation through Completion, Consolidation & Continuity,” and was presented to Parliament by the Minority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu on the authority of the President in the absence of the Finance Minister designate, Ken Ofori-Atta who was indisposed.