The Ghana Union Movement (GUM) has labelled Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s proposed development plan for the country as a “cover-up to gain votes.”
Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, the Founder and flag bearer of the GUM, said it is unfortunate that the Vice President wants to reverse policies he spearheaded as head of the Economic Management Team of the ruling New Patriotic Party [NPP].
“He (Bawumia) is part of the regime that introduced the e-levy and other tax measures; so, if he makes a U-turn and says he will abolish it, I do not think it is true because he was the leader of the economic giants that were managing the country,” he told Ghana News Agency
The Vice President, who is also the flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party, addressed Ghanaians on Wednesday night, outlining a slew of policies he plans to implement if elected President.
Dr. Bawumia, who has prioritised digitisation, stated that he intends to use technology and the private sector to create long-term jobs, generate revenue, and build systems to propel Ghana into the modern global economy.
The Vice President promised to abolish the e-levy, which imposed a 1.5 per cent charge on all electronic and mobile money transactions over GHS100 per day.
He also promised to align Ghana’s port charges with those of Togo to check the smuggling of goods.
Andrews said the GUM was in favour of the free port system and explained that the “heavy” taxes on machinery imported into the country undermined investments in the industrial sector.
On the issue of employment, he said economic policies should target jobs that would add value to the country’s resources instead of focusing on the service sector.
“Jobs in the service institutions do not add any economic value to the country. If you want to create jobs, we should focus on the production sector and create value,” he said.
Touching on preparations towards the 2024 General Election, Rev. Andrews said the Party will, in March this year, open nominations for interested persons to pick parliamentary forms at the various constituencies.
He said the Party had also extended a public invitation to Mr Alan Kyerematen, the Leader and Founder of the Movement for Change, to be its running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
