According to him, the Free Senior High (SHS) School programme in its current state, is wasteful and does not help the current dire economic situation in the country.

He stated that the government could review the Free SHS policy such that it only targets community day schools and the needy in society.

He said, “Why is the government paying my children’s school fees? I did not ask for it. Why is Free SHS free for me? Why is it free for people like me and a lot more people who have not asked for it?”

He noted that the poor implementation of the Free SHS policy was due to the lack of reliable data on Ghana’s demography, leading to blanket implementation of social interventions.

“We always hide behind the absence of data and every social intervention we do blanket application to both the rich and the poor. So the rich put their children in primary schools and pay thousands and thousands of school fees and then when they get to secondary school they get it for free.

“I can’t just bring myself to understand this. There is a way of finding out brilliant, not even brilliant, the needy students, and the needy parents whose wards in the secondary school may need support,” he said.

He added that it is only in Ghana that the government is offering free boarding facilities to students.

“And one other thing, there is no country, I’ve done my checks, no country under this sun that gives free boarding education. America doesn’t do that, the UK doesn’t do that, Australia doesn’t do that, Germany doesn’t do that, these are the countries we visit to take money to subsidise our education and then we give free boarding education.

“Free breakfast, free lunch, free supper, free uniform, free shoes, free books, free tuition, electricity, water from a poor country?  I’m not sure that is how you solve a problem when you’re sitting on a huge fiscal gap and all you’re doing is taking actions that will further broaden the fiscal deficit,” he said.

Speaking on PM Express Business Edition, Chief Executive of the Ghana Association of Bankers, John Awuah, noted that the current 1.75 per cent may erode some gains made so far in the banking sector and financial inclusion.

“As an Association, we think that the 1.75 is too high, and the rate should be reduced because we believe that anything around 1 per cent could be good at the entry point,” he said.

Mr Awuah noted there is an opportunity to even review the rate in the Mid-Year Review of Estimates in July depending on how things go in terms of the levy, adding that they don’t think that it should be pegged at 1.75 per cent.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is currently embarking on stakeholder consultation before the document is presented to parliament for approval.

However, JoyBusiness is learning that the proposed E-Levy rate still stands at 1.75 per cent.

The tax has been the bone of contention since the government presented its 2022 Budget statement to the House last year.

The Finance Minister has indicated that the move will increase the country’s tax-to-GDP from 13% to a targeted 16% or more.

But the Minority has also insisted that the tax is a tool to exacerbate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian, which the Covid-19 pandemic has already impacted.

In recognition of the critical role played by stakeholders and the need for stronger partnerships with them, the Service held a meeting with officials of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Association of Bankers.

This was on Tuesday, 12th October 2021, at the National Police Headquarters.

The meeting highlighted new strategies being mapped out by the Police Service to counter cash-in-transit robbery attacks and the challenges that are encountered.

All areas of collaboration between the Police and the banks were examined.

The meeting, which was chaired by the IGP, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare was attended by members of the Police Management Board; the Governor of BoG and his Deputies; the President, the CEO, and other executive members of the Association of Bankers.

Also present were the CEOs of most of the major banks in the country.

The Police Administration assured players within the banking sector and members of the public commitment to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for the banking industry and guarantee the safety of all persons in the country.

The Administration would also like to assure all Police officers that their safety is paramount and the Service will go to all lengths to provide them with the needed protection to enable them to serve the society in peace.