The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) is demanding a retraction and an unqualified apology from the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, for comments he made in an interview on Oyerepa TV.
The Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency is reported to have taken on traders over the hikes in prices of goods and indicated that they were exploiting Ghanaians.
He is also quoted as saying: “They are always talking about taxes and yet they are over exploiting Ghanaians and I’m saying this without fear.”
The First Deputy Speaker is said to have added that GUTA and, indeed, traders by their actions do not have the moral rights to complain about tax hikes.
But in a press statement issued on Monday, April 17, GUTA said the likes of Joewise, as he is affectionately called, are bringing the name of Parliament into disrepute.
“We condemn in no uncertain terms the statements and the sheer arrogance and complete ignorance exhibited on the genuine inputs GUTA made on those three taxes he mentioned,” the statement signed by GUTA Secretary General Alpha Shaban said.
Alpha Shaban stated that members of GUTA are “equal stakeholders” in the running of the country’s affairs and have been collaborating with government to fashion out policies to the benefit of the entire citizenry.
GUTA described as “infantile” and “diabolical” allegations that members are the cause of high prices of goods.
The mother union for traders, therefore, challenged the lawmaker to produce a list of all taxes imposed by government at the ports and elsewhere “for all Ghanaians to know who is exploiting the consumer”.
GUTA said he who comes into equity must come with cleans hands and that there are several allegations of under-invoicing and over-invoicing as well as bribery at the ports involving parliamentarians. Some, the traders allege, have Joewise at the center.
“Can one, therefore, be right to call Parliament as a corrupt institution and describe its members as thieves?” GUTA asked.
The statement asked that the First Deputy Speaker be called to order for his “unbecoming behaviour”.
