2021 BUDGET: POLLUTION IN GHANA CANNOT BE SOLVED BY TAXING, BUT ACTION – YfD

Press Release

15 -03 – 2021
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Owing to the recent 2021 financial statement presented on the floor of parliament by the caretaker minister of finance, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Youth for Democracy (YfD) wish to call on government to withdraw the Sanitation and Pollution levy.

Prior to the 2016 general elections, president Akufo Addo made numerous campaign promises to Ghanaians. Topical among them was the need to “make Accra the cleanest city in Africa”.

Barely after five(5) good years under President Akufo Addo’s leadership, issues of sanitation have dominated the numerous calls by concerned citizens as well as Civil Society Organizations.

Ghanaians believed in this assertion and subsequently endorsed him as the president of the republic. Citizens were few months on, surprised to have witnessed inconsequential actions regarding the country’s sanitation. Some of which were nothing but “Entertainment programs and merry making gatherings in the name of sanitation”. Reference can be made to the many sanitation weeks being organized by government through the ministry of Sanitation.

Ghana’s beaches that serve as tourist attractions were horribly flooded with recyclable plastics.

Many calls were made by advocacy groups, civil society organizations as well as concerned citizens but President Akufo Addo’s sanitation cabals turned deaf ears.

Youth for Democracy (YfD) being a Youth Advocacy group is displeased with government’s plan of levying Ghanaians through the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) as stated at page twenty-two(22) paragraph 103 of the 2021 financial statement delivered on the floor of parliament on Friday, March 12th, 2021.

This the group believe is a lazy man’s way of tackling issues of pollution in Ghana. Youth for Democracy (YfD) is of the firm belief that Levying without any action (i.e clear cut programs and strict measures) but ‘Entertainment and merry-making concerts’ could only be an avenue for the popular “chop chop anthem” under president Akufo Addo’s government.

Youth for Democracy is by this statement calling for a withdrawal of this levy, alternatively a deduction by percentage levy whiles ensuring reinforcement and strict adherence to Sanitation laws.

Thank you …

Mr. Elikem Kotoko
P.R.O, YfD
📞… 0244705778

Oscar Bedzra
Communications Officer , YfD
📞… 0244705778

Mr. Japheth Adesi, spokesperson on Science and Technology, YfD
📞 … 0242310487


Mr. Emmanuel Sewornuku Klu
Patron , YfD
📞…0244893638