Actor Prince David Osei who campaigned for President Nana Akufo-Addo during the 2020 elections has expressed his displeasure in the government’s decision to tax citizens for the free water and electricity they enjoyed as part of COVID-19 relief measures in 2020.
According to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who spoke on PM Express on Joy News, “It was free to the people of Ghana at the time.”
According to him, the decision last year was because the pandemic was a looming crisis and the government had to improvise for the country’s well-being.
“When we say free electricity it doesn’t mean that the IPP producer is also going to say because the President has said free electricity I won’t charge for it.”
Speaking to Evans Mensah, Mr Nkrumah said Ghana has spent about ¢19 billion on Covid-19 related issues and that includes the relief package on the utilities.
“But that 19 billion cedis has to be paid for at some point, the liabilities we have incurred has to be paid for,” he indicated Monday night.
“So I am going back to Ofoasi to explain to my people why we need to ensure that we all pay that 1% extra so that we can continue to provide those services for the people of Ghana to protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.
This, according to him, will help ameliorate the economy and bridge the gap between the country’s income and expenditure.
This has angered some people including Prince David, who took to social media to vent his spleen.
“Pls, Mr President I believe in you! There can be another way of recuperating the money lost other then citizens paying for the free usage of water and electricity you affectionately offered to them.. Thank You,” he wrote.
Pls, Mr President I believe in you! There can be another way of recuperating the money lost other then citizens paying for the free usage of water and electricity you affectionately offered to them.. Thank You @nakufoaddo ❤️ pic.twitter.com/K2pDa98ZYA
— H.E Prince David Osei (@PrinceDavidOsei) March 17, 2021
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By: ghanaweekend.com
