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Parliament waves tax for 4 companies under 1D1F
Parliament yesterday approved request by the government for tax waivers to four companies under the One District One Factory initiative.
The package included import duties, import Value Added Tax, Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) levy, Import National Health Insurance Levy and Export and Import (EXIM) levy.
The companies are Camelot Ghana Limited (US$347,174), Favour 01 Limited (US$131,988), Gee’s Fresh Point Limited (GHC48, 369) and LK International Company Ghana Limited (US$2,284,831).
Areas of the economy where the companies are expected to operate include production of non-alcoholic beverages, tricycle assembling, security printing and processing and packaging of birds.
The request for waiver laid in the House on May 26, 2020, was in accordance with Article 174(2) of the Constitution.
Presenting the Finance Committee’s report on the waiver, Chairman, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah said the move was in line with government’s efforts to industrilise the country.
The report, a copy of which the Ghanaian Times has said in part that “considering the benefits to be derived from the projects, the Committee is of the view that the requests will go a long way to boost government’s flagship 1D1F programme.”
According to the report, some of the benefits of the projects would include increased employment, reduction in post harvest losses of fruits by providing alternative market, increased export earnings and increased fruit production in the country.
The report said Camelot Ghana Limited’s main business was the printing of security documents and continuous forms.
“The company offers the printing of cheque books, bankers’ drafts, share certificates, dividend warrants and certificates, lottery tickets of various types and continuous and cut sheet stationery, preprints for laser printers, electoral ballot papers-standard and special size and many more,” it said.
Located in Tamale, LK International Company Limited assembles tricycles and other related products for distribution on the local market and countries in the ECOWAS sub region such as Burkina Faso, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Mali.
Favour 01 Limited, the report said is a limited liability company under the Companies Code of Ghana, 1963 (Act 179) and is located at Ayikuma in the Shai Osudoku District in the Greater Accra Region.
Gee’s Fresh Point Limited, the Committee reported is a gender sensitive organisation working with NGOs like WUSC, FARM RADIO, and GIZ towards empowering women through capacity building programmes and creating ready markets for women poultry farmers.
A member of the Committee, Benjamin Kpodo, urged that government to track the intended mission of the firms to ensure that they lived up to the billing.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
