Dr Kwasi Ofei-Agyeman
Dr Kwasi Ofei-Agyemang, the 2008 NDC parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso Central constituency, has expressed his unflinching support for the government’s proposed Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).
Speaking with the Daily Statesman on Friday, the renowned naturopathic physician described the E-Levy as an innovative revenue mobilization measure whose implementation will be “excellent for the redemption of Ghana’s infrastructure development deficit.”
While decrying “the woeful infrastructure deficit” that had bedeviled the country since independence, Dr Ofei-Agyeman praised the initiators of the E-Levy, saying “it is an innovative, ingenious and patriotic construct, the implementation of which will bring immense benefits to the Ghanaian ‘Economic Emancipation Agenda’.”
While encouraging Ghanaians to support the implementation of the E-Levy, he also urged the government not to renege on its assurance to ensure transparent accounting for the proceeds that will be realized from the levy.
“Once Ghanaians begin to see the benefits the E-Levy is providing for our collective growth and development, we shall have overthrown the foreign dependency syndrome, and shall consolidate our capacity and competence to pursue our ‘Economic Emancipation Agenda’,” he stressed.
Dr Ofei-Agyeman also posited that the E-Levy “would provide enough resources for the government to provide capital to downsize the administration to cut done cost through the redeployment of its very competent officials who will be charged to invest in ventures through which more jobs will be created.”
Road infrastructure
The former NDC parliamentary candidate agreed with the government that more of the proceeds from the E-Levy should be channeled into infrastructure development, especially road construction, saying that is critical in opening up the country for economic development.
He praised the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta, “for the bold initiative taken to ease congestion on our roads by removing toll booths.”
He, however, added that this initiative “shall be successful only with the installation of steel footbridges of the kind located at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange” on all high speed roads and motorways across the country, especially in the big cities.
Dr Ofei-Agyeman also stressed the need for “a re-engineering” of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle flyover and interchange and others, saying “it is unconscionable that a flyover or interchange constructed to ease vehicular congestion should have several Zebra crossings for pedestrians, a situation which defeats the purpose for these flyovers.”
“No country can develop without well-constructed roads. So, roads, like houses, need a solid foundation to be durable,” he stated, suggesting that the Ministry of Roads and Highways should emulate the example of the Appian Way, a road in Italy, between Rome and Brandish, covering a distance of 370km.
“This road was started in 312 BC; it began as leveled dirt, upon which small stones and mortar were laid; gravel was laid upon the small stones, and was finally topped with tight fitting interlocking stones to provide a flat surface.
“Today, 2312 years on, the Appian Way remains the same just as it was first commissioned. Many jobs shall be created from such labour intensive template, and the durability of our roads shall be phenomenal,” he posited.
Covid-19
Touching on Covid-19, Dr Ofei-Agyeman said the pandemic is “the culprit of the economic crisis the entire world is reeling under” at the moment.
The naturopathic physician, who is opposed to the conventional way of dealing with Covid-19, described it as “a pandemic of fear and the silencing of the truth.”
He said he was disappointed that the NDC Covid-19 Committee could not provide alternatives “that would have compelled the government not to side with the approach governments all over the world had taken with their tyrannical positions dictated by orthodox doctors who are totally impotent in controlling the spread of the viruses.”
He therefore urged the government to review its position on mask wearing and social distancing, and also open the country’s land borders.
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