Independent Presidential candidate has said the tariff will worsen the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian considering the prevailing economic challenge.

In a post on X formerly Twitter, Mr Kyerematen noted in the economic situation Ghana finds itself, every government policy among other things must reduce the cost of living.

“In the kind of economic situation we find ourselves, every government policy, plan or decision, has to have the objective of achieving the following; reduce the cost of living, reduce the cost of doing business, reduce exchange rate, and create sustainable jobs for the youth.

“Putting VAT on electricity will not achieve any of the above. It would rather worsen the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian,” Mr Kyerematen stated.

In this regard, the founder and leader of the Movement for Change has said that his Great Transformational Plan (GTP), “as a trusted roadmap, would guide us to achieve the above objectives and more.”

On January 1, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to implement the VAT, with the aim of generating revenue for the COVID-19 recovery program.

The announcement has sparked public outcry amidst calls for the government to rescind the decision.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding a withdrawal of the tax which they believe will have adverse effects on the lives of ordinary Ghanaians, especially pensioners and low-income earners.

Organised Labour has threatened to embark on an industrial action if the government fails to heed to the call of TUC.

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Read the full post below:

In the kind of economic situation we find ourselves, every government policy, plan, or decision has to have the objective of achieving the following:

1.Reduce the cost of living
2.Reduce the cost of doing business
3.Reduce the exchange rates
4.Create sustainable jobs for the…

— Alan John Kyerematen (@AlanKyerematen) January 24, 2024

In an interview with Nana Jantuah on Nhyira FM Kuro Yi Mu Nsem the independent presidential aspirant who recently resigned from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said increasing the cedi value is in line with his transformational project.

Alan is mainly focused on industry, agriculture, economy, governance, and security under his umbrella Great Transformational Plan (GTP), which will be in place for a five-year period spanning 2025 to 2030.

His major concern for the economic sector is the low value of the cedi. He believes the nation will move forward when the dollar becomes stable, adding that high inflation and interest rates have to be reduced as well.

The former Trade Minister noted that the surest way to strengthen the cedi is to add value to its raw material and export more while cutting down on importation.

According to him, when the country focuses more on exporting finished products rather than importing the country will generate enough not to require external funding or loans to carry out development projects.

If the country gets 2 billion dollars from cocoa exports, produces clothes for export, and adds palm fruit export, the country could be making

“The plan I have for Ghana is, first of all, concerning finances. I have taught ways to stabilise the cedi, I have taught ways to reduce inflation, and I have taught ways to reduce the interest rate.

“I have also taught ways to increase government revenues. Following these, there will not be any need for us to borrow money for any developmental projects,” he said.

Alan Kyerematen mentioned that it is of major importance to make good monetary decisions, as that will be a good foundation for job creation.

“When there are good monetary policies, businessmen will have confidence in the economy. That will be a good motivation, especially for the private sector, to create businesses and build factories.

“If the government doesn’t help private sector financing and allow them to invest more in the economy, we can never move forward. The government won’t be able to generate revenue for the country’s development,” he said.

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Mr Kyerematen’s campaign team has announced that he will be meeting with NPP delegates in public durbars across the country, revolutionising the way aspirants engage with party members.

This innovative approach seeks to transform the dynamics of interaction between the aspiring flagbearer and delegates.

The public durbars will provide a unique platform for different constituencies to come together, fostering camaraderie and enabling the sharing of experiences.

Furthermore, these gatherings will empower delegates to develop winning strategies towards achieving the shared goal of electing Mr Kyerematen as president, while also fostering a strong partnership between the NPP and the general public, a statement from the campaign team explained.

The campaign team believes that these durbars will invigorate the party’s grassroots members, energising them for the upcoming 2024 elections.

Mr Kyerematen will kickstart this interactive series in the Greater Accra region on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, focusing on constituencies organised in clusters.

During these events, he will articulate his vision for both the NPP and Ghana, aiming to garner support and present his plans for the party’s future.

By employing this new campaign strategy, Mr Kyerematen aims to strengthen his connection with NPP delegates, promote inclusivity, and galvanize the party’s base towards a resounding victory in the 2024 elections.

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