Akufo-Addo has no power to grant tax waiver - Haruna Iddrisu

Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that President Akufo-Addo doesn’t have the powers to grant tax waiver to companies.

He disclosed that, per the constitution only Parliament can approve a tax waiver for any company.

“The president has no power to grant any tax waiver. And let it be known that as President of Ghana, he has no such power,” the Member of Parliament for Tamale South said whilst the House approved a ¢288.6 million tax waiver for health care workers to motivate them in the fight against Covid-19.

It will be recalled the President on April 5, 2020, announced the tax waivers for health care personnel in one of his Covid-19 addresses. “All health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months; i.e. April, May and June,” he said.

“Mr. Speaker, we have all had the privilege of writing presidential speeches. What you people should do to help the President is that he should say, I am making a request to parliament to grant tax waivers.

“He does not speak authoritatively as if the power of that exemption is vested in him as executive president. President Nana Akufo-Addo has no such powers. No President of the Republic has such powers,” Mr. Iddrisu added.