To whom much is given, much is expected—Bagbin tells NDC MPs, incoming Mahama govt

 

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama on his victory in the 2024 general elections.

He also congratulated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament for the overwhelming majority of seats they won in the polls, which means they will form the majority side in the next Parliament.

Delivering a statement in Parliament on Monday, December 16, he said that the overwhelming endorsement of Mr. Mahama and the NDC MPs by Ghanaians places a heavy responsibility on them not to fail.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. You cannot afford to disappoint,” he said.

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, for his part, wondered how the incoming Mahama administration would raise revenue to fund its projects when it promised to remove taxes.

He noted that Ghanaians are interested in seeing how the Mahama administration will protect the public purse.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap several taxes within his first 100 days in office, arguing that these taxes burden Ghanaians.

The taxes include the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on betting, emissions levy, and import duty on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, December 16, the Effutu lawmaker said, “We are going to see how you [pointing to NDC MPs] will protect the public purse. We have heard from Terkper that you can’t finance the free SHS. We will see where you will raise revenue to fund the Nkokor Nkitinkitin.”

 

Some analysts have also expressed similar sentiments.

For instance, Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, raised concerns about how the incoming Mahama administration will generate revenue for development if it removes all the taxes it has promised to abolish.

Jackson highlighted the significant challenges in managing the economy, particularly with the manifesto pledge to remove certain taxes, including the e-levy.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap several taxes within his first 100 days in office, arguing that these taxes burden Ghanaians. The taxes include the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on betting, emissions levy, and import duty on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Speaking on TV3 on Friday, December 13, Jackson said, “Let us not be mistaken; in 2025, we have to look at how we are performing in terms of revenue because some of the items are going to go out. There has been a manifesto commitment to take out the e-levy, betting tax, and the COVID levy. So a lot of issues are going to come out, and I do not doubt in my mind that the challenge is going to be huge.”

 

He added, “You say you are going to remove tax A, B, C, and D. But where will the money come from?”

When asked why anyone would want to be president in 2025, given the impending challenges, Jackson responded, “Because somebody has to step up and rule, somebody has to step up and fix the country.”