Editorial
Bearing our economic burden together
National reconstruction calls for mobilisation of resources for the purpose of rebuilding what has gone wrong to promote smooth economic development for people in the country.
To be able to do this, we need to ensure that the burden is borne equally by everyone in the country, as part of contributing our quota towards national development.
In a situation where only a handful of people pays taxes to generate revenue into the national coffers for the sake of national development, the system can be said to be unfair since a substantial portion of people may not be seen to be contributing their quota to national development.
It is in the light of this that the government must adopt strategies to rope in more people into the tax net. When this is done, more people will be forced to contribute to national development in terms of paying taxes to raise revenue for the country.
Construction of roads, hospitals, schools, railways and many of such development projects require that we raise enough revenue to cover such expenses. We need to do this on regular basis to ensure that development projects are distributed to all sections of the population, so that every person or group of people will have their fair share of the national cake.
Many people in the formal sector are already contributing their quota through payment of taxes.
However, it is known that a large section of the country’s population does not pay tax. This is very unfortunate.
The Spectator is of the view that anyone who is involved in any kind of trade, no matter how small the scale is, ought to be made to pay some tax, so that together we can all enjoy good drinking water, good roads and health facilities for the good of everyone in this country.
Rome was not built in a day, so we must all agree to contribute our quota, so that over a period of time, we can all share in the glory of our own developmental agenda.
Government is already making some effort in this direction by ensuring that, to be able to register a business in this country, a person’s TIN number will be required for that purpose. This means that you cannot register a business entity without your TIN number.
We believe these are the measures needed to ensure that everyone is brought into the tax net, so that, together, we can all contribute to national revenue and help in the reconstruction of our country.
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to draw the attention of NADMO and other related agencies to the recent prediction by the Ghana Meteorological Agency to expect a lot of rains this year, especially in the Southern sector of the country.
GMet issued the forecast to provide an early warning to protect lives and property.
Interestingly, the Southern sector happens to be one of the many trouble spots in the country when the rains start.
It predicted the season to start in March and continue until July or August with above-normal rainfall along the eastern coast and nearby inland areas, including Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, Saltpond, Asamankese, Akim Oda, Koforidua, and Kade.
Knowing the problems faced as a country, concerns have been raised in certain quarters about the aftermath flooding problems in low-lying areas.
These concerns are well placed because flooding has become an annual ritual associated with the season.
My appeal goes to NADMO as well as the district and metropolitan assemblies. They are responsible for activities before and after the season.
As we prepare, they must spearhead the campaign to desilt the drainages in order for water to flow freely.
The citizenry must also show some sense of responsibility by desisting from throwing rubbish into gutters to block the free flow of water.
Noah Musa,
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I WOULD like to express my views on why some people abuse leaders on social media platforms.
In recent times, social media has become a powerful tool for communication and expression. Unfortunately, many people misuse this freedom by insulting and abusing leaders instead of engaging in constructive criticism.
One major reason for this behaviour is frustration. When citizens feel ignored, unemployed, or affected by poor policies, they sometimes turn their anger toward leaders online.
Another reason is anonymity. Social media allows users to hide behind fake names and profiles, which gives them the confidence to say things they would not dare say in public. This lack of accountability encourages abusive language and disrespectful comments.
Ignorance and misinformation also play a role. Some people abuse leaders based on false news or rumours without verifying facts. This leads to unnecessary attacks that can damage reputations and create tension in society.
While leaders should be held accountable, abuse and insults do not solve problems. Too many people are finding social media platforms as homes to hide and churn out untruths that goes a long way to damage the image and credibility of the victims.
Constructive criticism, dialogue, and lawful channels are better ways to express dissatisfaction. Citizens must remember that respect is essential for national unity and development.
I hope this letter will encourage people to use social media responsibly and promote respectful communication.
Eugene Ampiaw,
Takoradi
