Group vows to stage demo despite assurance on luxury vehicle tax review

The Coalition for Social Justice has said that it will not back down on its planned demonstration slated for July 9, 2019, despite assurance from the government that it will review the luxury vehicle levy in its mid-year budget review.

According to the coalition, the luxury vehicle tax is only one of the many concerns that form the basis for their planned protest.

Over the past few days, the Vehicle and Assets Dealers Association of Ghana (VADAG) and other associations in the automobile industry have lamented over the vehicle levy tax slapped by the government on vehicles.

They contend that the rate of the luxury vehicle tax is negatively affecting their businesses, therefore the need for the planned demonstration dubbed, “Kum Yen Preko”.

They also say the government is not doing much to ensure a stable economy that will support the growth of their businesses.

But the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on Friday indicated that the luxury vehicle tax would be reviewed in the mid-year budget review.

He said that the decision was influenced by some stakeholder engagements.

According to the finance minister, the mid-year review would be presented before July 31 this year.

The tax was introduced in July 2018 with some stakeholders calling for its removal.

The spokesperson of the Coalition leading the ‘Kum y?n pr?ko’ demonstration, Comrade Abass Nurudeen said they will still hold the demonstration to get the government to resolve the various social and economic issues that is affecting their businesses and their lives as Ghanaians.

“[The assurance] is just a panic reaction from the government after we had a meeting with the car dealers association. But the demonstration is not only about the luxury tax act. There is a range of issues that we want the government to address. The insecurity, the economic environment, job losses, banking crisis and others. We are not swayed in any way by this assurance. There is no guarantee that the review is going to materialize.”

Meanwhile, some aggrieved customers of troubled gold dealership firm, Menzgold, have served notice of joining the forthcoming ‘‘Kum y?n pr?ko’ demonstration to publicly express their disappointment with the government over its handling of the Menzgold debacle.

Source: citinewsroom.com