Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a member of parliament for Assin Central, has committed to expand the tax net to cover craftsmen and workers in the informal sector if elected president.
Agyapong, one of ten candidates seeking for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership, made the commitment during an interview on Citi TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu.
He contended that the existing tax net is too narrow and does not generate enough income to fund the government’s development goals.
Agyapong described himself as a realistic businessman who understands how to make income. He also stated that he will fight down on tax evasion and corruption.
“My policy on taxes is that taxes will be reduced and expanded and what I mean by reduce is that taxes in this country are so high but only a few people are paying taxes.
“I am a pragmatic person and I have the experience. I am a business person and I am fortunate to have employed educated people, uneducated people, and artisans and I can tell you that artisans make more money than some educated people and this is clear in my construction site in Tema where a mason makes about GH¢150 a day which translates to close to GH¢4000 a month and graduate at Oman and Kencity makes between GH¢2,700 and is taxed in addition but the mason is not taxed.”
“When I am given the opportunity to become president, every artisan, everybody working in this country will have to register to have a license and a pin number so that we can tax them and when the tax base is expanded, we then reduce taxes,” Mr. Agyapong assured.
