News:
April 4, 2013
The Member of Parliament of Ablekuma West says President John Mahama by filing his tax returns yesterday has sparked a huge controversy which is completely unnecessary.
She challenged President Mahama to publicly tell Ghanaians what other businesses he is engaged in, which has yielded to him revenue for which he has just filed his tax returns, adding that officially it is not known that the president does any private business.
The President on Tuesday 2nd April 2013 visited the Domestic Tax Revenue Office, of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at Tudu, to file his tax returns, an action that has generated mixed reaction from the public.
Article 68(5) of the 1992 Constitution exempts the President from paying taxes on his Presidential Pay package. The Constitution stipulates that ‘’ the President shall not, while he continues in office as President hold any other office of profit or emolument whether directly or indirectly.’’
Speaking on Oman FM’s National Agenda Show on Wednesday, Hon. Ursula Owusu stated that President Mahama who was at his populist best by that act of empty symbolism should come clear and tell Ghanaians when he had the time to do his private work at a time when he still was either the Vice President or President.
“Does it mean that when the President was being paid that huge salary with all other expenses taken care of with the tax payers hard earned money to ensure his comfort, he still found time to do his private business instead of focusing on his core job as the President’’ she enquired.
Hon. Ursula Owusu noted that the President must know that he is not a private individual anymore but rather a creature of the constitution and so must abide by its dictates.
Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh