Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – Government
The government has used biblical language to admonish Ghanaians to embrace the new taxes, quoting Leviticus 11: ‘Cast thy bread upon the water: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.’
Honourable James Avedzi, NDC MP and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, told journalists that although the NDC is a social democratic party, it doesn’t mean that the NDC government is a Father Christmas. And even if it is a Father Christmas, the season is over. The government needs money to provide the things that Ghanaians keep purposelessly lamenting for.’
Honourable Avedzi said that it does not make sense for Ghanaians to give offerings in church, to pay their tithes, and other kinds of payments in church and yet refuse to pay taxes.
‘Even Jesus Christ, the first social democrat in history, advised his followers to pay their taxes,’ the lawmaker waxed pious and biblical, ‘he asked them to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”’
Religious leaders across the country have expressed agreement with the government’s interpretation of scriptures, but one pastor who we interviewed stated emphatically:
‘They should make sure they pay their tithes before paying their taxes!’
The taxes (and hikes in utility tariffs), introduced at the beginning of the year, according to Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, ‘are President Mahama’s own special New Year’s gift to Ghanaians, and is a clear indication that the Better Ghana Agenda is on course.’
Meanwhile, NDC members believe that with the introduction of these new taxes, increases in utility tariffs, and increase in fuel prices, Mahama is improving the lives of Ghanaians, making his one-touch victory in election 2016 assured.
Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.
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