A five percent excise levy on locally made plastic products has prompted the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association to threaten to stop manufacturing.
President Ebbo Botwe gave the government a week’s notice to revoke the decision since it would affect their enterprises during a press conference.
Nonetheless, he suggested that all parties involved be included, pointing out the possible financial consequences of this scheduled production stoppage.
Ebbo Botwe lamented:
“We are appealing to the vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumuia to intervene in this matter because the effect of this consumer tax will really affect the masses, the common man, the common woman will suffer extreme hardship.
“In conclusion, we ask GRA to stop the harassment of plastic manufacturers and we give the Ministry of Finance one week to respond to our request or we shall have no option but for all plastic manufacturers to shut down production for at least one week and of course, we’ll send home over 30,00 workers,”
Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), expressed similar thoughts and bemoaned the government’s insensitivity to the business community.
“The government is being insensitive to the business community. Let’s defer the implementation of the excise tax. The time is not right and it’s not fair around this time where businesses are suffering from the effects of exchange rates and we are very much aware of this,” he added.
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