Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has pointed to excessive fringe benefits enjoyed by politicians as a key reason why many Ghanaians resist the imposition of new taxes.
Speaking on The Keypoints on March 15, Kpebu stated: “The main problem we have with our tax generation system is that, to be honest, the ordinary man knows that the politician is getting too much from the public purse.”
He highlighted the luxurious lifestyle of politicians, which contrasts sharply with the financial struggles of ordinary citizens.
“In terms of the cars—the other day you listed—V8, pickup, saloon, travelling allowances, imprest… the politicians get way too much. So, the ordinary man is not interested.”
Kpebu suggested that government must first plug corruption loopholes and cut unnecessary expenditures before expecting Ghanaians to comply with tax policies.
“The citizens are feeling like, no, politicians make way too much. They make way too much. Don’t overtax us,” he said.
Mr Kpebu supported the abolition of the Electronic Levy (E-Levy), arguing that it disproportionately affects the poor.
He stated: “At the base of the E-Levy conversation is the fact that it disproportionately targets poor people. So you see, once again, the moment you say, for those who file, they should be out, then we are hitting more at the poor. No, no, no, no.”
He further emphasized the need for a more inclusive tax system that does not burden the economically disadvantaged.
“We don’t want economic development that excludes poor people.”
According to Kpebu, tax education and voluntary digital self-assessment should be prioritized before considering any such levy.
