Kusi, Charles Appiah Kubi, Executive Secretary of the Ashanti Business Community, has emphasized the importance of tax policies that are more business-friendly.
“Any policy dealing with business people must be designed with business people in mind, and that policy must be acceptable to business people,” he said on The Point of View.
In protest of the uneven implementation of the Value Added Tax, some Kumasi businesses have closed their doors to customers for the past three days.
Protesting businesses claim that the tax structure and administration do not support the characteristics of the fast-moving goods market.
They also said the lack of VAT compliance means the compliant businesses are competing with fellow businesses offering cheaper prices.
Mr. Appiah Kubi urged the government to be mindful of the greater good of the economy.
“We did not set up our businesses because we want to pay tax. We set up businesses because we want to grow our economy, and when our businesses get better, that is when we can pay taxes.”
While taxes have been described as necessary as the government seeks to widen the tax net, Mr. Appiah Kubi warned that “some bitter pills can kill. It is not every bitter we must take.”
