Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance Lecturer at the Central University, says he doesn't understand why the President of the Republic of Ghana is exempted from paying taxes.
According to him, the law that exempts the President needs to be immediately reviewed.
Speaking on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah argued that if market women who work so hard to earn a living are compelled to pay taxes off their dailiy incomes, then there is no way the President shouldn't equally pay tax.
When explained to him by a texter on the show that the President is free from taxation only on his salaries and allowances but should he own a business, the constitution binds him to pay tax, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah held firmly that there should be no excuse for the President.
"The President enjoys the most of the things that everyone enjoys in this country . . . I disagree that he shouldn't be paying tax. I disagree!'', he bellowed.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Guys please this issue is not about the current President. Its a general call for the change in the constitution that exempts the presidency from paying tax on their salaries and allowances. You see until Africa starts raising leaders that lead by example we will be lagging behind for a long time . We are not at the point where we should be having hero worshiped leaders being carried shoulder high. What we need is sacrificial leadership if we are to develop. We need leaders who are prepared to sacrifice their comfort for the development of their nation. And it starts by they being examples for us in every area. People will easily follow and support leaders who are sacrificing for them. Some of our friends in Asia ( South Korea, Singapore , Japan, China Etc ) have done it and we can too
People have rightly indicated so. Constitution needs to be reviewed in several areas, including the exemption of taxes for Presidents. It's only a Monarch/Emperor who can be exempted from taxes, because the Monarch/Emperor owns the land. That is not the case of a President.
Lets be honest to ourselves, that is the path that we chose as a country. You can blame the framers of the constitution and not Akufo Addo. Perhaps you submit a request for amending the Constitution and Act 896, that is the Income Tax Law. You are just throwing dust into peoples eyes. Ghana is not the only tax jurisdiction where Presidents are exempt from paying tax. The learned lecturer should conduct his research very well. Until when the Tax Law is amended Presidents of the Republic of Ghana would continue to be exempt from paying tax. Where was the lecturer when Atta Mills, Kufour and Mahama were enjoying this facility?
so is that where the hatred for Nana Addo has gone eh now the the so called academics are on board. what a drama. common sense where are you. in which country does a president pays tax on his salary?. Mercy and lets forgive them. from strikes through coups and now taxes. lets wait for the rest
A sure proof that these politicians are taking us for a ride, The president has no moral right to ask professionals to pay taxes when he is hiding under irrelevant laws avoid paying taxes.
Ghana's problem the constitution. The whole constitution has to be reviewed! Anyway, I agree with Ceejay
Only in Akufo Addo time but not in Mahama. Stomach lecturer.
What goes around comes around. The 1992 constitution was crafted to favor some group of persons including J J. Rawlings. Now see where we are. They never dreamt of being out of power one day!
Yes I think its high time , presidents are made to pay taxes on their salaries and allowances. They have all the privileges the common people don't have i.e best healthcare , security , great offices environment , chauffeur driven , great pension , cooks, butlers etc. Yet their salaries and allowances are not taxed. As a matter of principle these category of persons enjoy much more than the common market woman who is sweating on the streets in the heat of the sun yet is demanded to pay taxes on their meagre income. I believe any leadership that is worth its status should be a leadership that leads by example. Even Jesus was taxed so how much more these leaders who enjoy more than anyone. The higher you earn the higher rate you must pay. I suggest earnings below 50,000 a year should attract between 15%-20% and anything above 50K should attract 25% tax . Lets have leaders who lead by example not just great orators