Three (3) Minority MPs have sued the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Finance Ministry in connection with the Government’s plan to waive taxes for some companies in the country.
The said firm scheduled to benefit from the tax waivers are some 42 companies under the 1 District 1 Factory Initiative.
Led by the Deputy Minor Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the legislators want the Supreme Court to suspend the tax waivers since they are not beneficial to the country.
The other 2 MPs who are connected to the lawsuit are Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South, and Kwame Agbodza Governs, MP for Adaklu.
The MPs argue that the GRA’s decision to grant these tax waivers is not in the best interest of the debt-ridden country and in contravention of Article 174 of the 1992 Constitution.
For instance, one of the plaintiffs, Bernard Ahiafor, wants the Supreme Court to intervene to save the country.
He argued that, “It appears Article 174 of the Constitution is being violated, the Supreme Court is giving an exclusive jurisdiction to interpret, therefore, any citizen who is aggrieved that a particular portion of the Constitution is being contravened, the remedy available is to seek for interpretation and declaration at the Supreme Court which is the apex court.
They are seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that the waivers are null, void, and of no effect.
Background
In 2021, the then Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced government’s plan to secure approximately $335,072,712.13 in tax exemptions for 42 companies participating in the government’s One District One Factory initiative.
In 2022, Ofori-Atta presented the Exemptions Act, 2022 (Act 1083), in Parliament for the commencement of the processes.
Among the companies, Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited, a newly established entity, has the highest requested exemption amounting to $164,633,012.00.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
