During his campaign tour in the Ashanti Region, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) John Dramani Mahama emphasized that the region is one of the most business-oriented areas in the country.
He explained that due to the high volume of business activity in Kumasi, the region is particularly affected by the depreciation of the cedi.
He said, “When the NDC was in power, we were accused of imposing high taxes, including port taxes, and the rising cost of goods.
They even criticized the cedi’s value against the dollar, claiming it was too high. Under our administration, the exchange rate was GH₵4 to the dollar. Now, the dollar is at GH₵17. Ask any businessman or businesswoman in the Ashanti region if their businesses are not collapsing.”
Mahama also pointed out that many business owners in the region have had to resort to alternative routes for clearing their goods due to the steep fees charged at the ports.
Referring to a promise made by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Mahama added, “Dr. Bawumia promised to shift the country from taxation to production. However, that promise has proven to be a sham as taxes on goods have only increased under this administration.”
