The Vehicle and Asset Dealers Association of Ghana (VADAG) has rescinded its decision to hold a series of protests against the luxury vehicle tax.
The Association in a press statement said their decision to withdraw from the “KUM YEN PREKO” demonstration was taken after careful consideration and amicable engagement with government.
The demonstration being championed by Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ) was to protest against the government over rising tax on the importation of spare parts into the country.
The association had earlier filed petitions to stakeholders including former heads of state, diplomatic missions and civil society to pressure the government to scrap the tax on luxury vehicles.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Attah, had also revealed at a presser that the said luxury vehicle tax will be reviewed.
They, however, insist the tax must be abolished and not reviewed as it will cause damage to business growth.
President of the Vehicle and Asset Dealers Association of Ghana (VADAG), Eric Boateng stated that they deem it necessary to cancel the demonstration especially after assurance from the government to scrap the tax.
“When we decided to embark on the demonstration, we called on elderly chiefs to intervene. So, they did that to the President and the President came out to say that it has been abolished. The Chiefs came to our secretariat with a plea that the government has agreed to scrap it once and for all.
Eric Boateng adds that his outfit disassociates itself from any protest on July 9 regarding the said luxury vehicle tax.
“We have postponed it; we are not calling it off because we are waiting on the 17th July, the Midyear budget review if truly what we are crying for the government has heard our plea — then that will mean no demonstration. But if not, then we will still demonstrate. We don’t want a review, what we think is that government said they will scrap it, not review it so we are waiting for that to happen,” he added.
VADAG has since entreated all its members to proceed on normal work activities as deliberations with government still continue.
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta last month revealed that the government will in the upcoming mid-year budget review announce a review of the luxury vehicle tax having consulted a number of stakeholders.