Extend deadline for submission of SSNIT, tax returns by businesses–Mahama
FORMER President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to the government to extend the deadlines for submission of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Tax returns by businesses
That, according to him was due to many factors including depletion of manpower and difficulties with modalities of payment.
Mr Mahama who is also the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the suggestion at a ceremony in Accra on Saturday where he presented quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth GH¢300,000 to the NDC COVID-19 technical team for delivery to health facilities across the country.
Five-hundred of the PPEs and gum boots were expected to go to Korle-Bu and the Tamale Teaching Hospitals due to the high demands there.
Furthermore, 150 PPEs, worth GH¢90,000, were expected to be secured for other facilities in the regions to put the total number of PPEs to be handed over to 650 sets at a cost of GH¢390, 000.
Former President Mahama said the gesture was in response to appeals for PPEs by health personnel across the country.
To reduce the impact of the virus on Ghanaians, he advocated the reduction of indirect taxes and the scrapping of all rate tax on essential products such as sanitisers, wipes, toilet rolls, food for a while.
He also urged the government to negotiate with the telecommunication companies to “suppress” their prices by giving them a free six months extension of licenses.
The former President said the country needed a proper “trickling down economics” to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians, including the distribution of food stuffs to deprived households in deprived communities by the Buffer stock and expansion of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) to cover more poor households.
“Government through the Ministry of Health must target vulnerable groups such as people with Cancer, Diabetes, Asthma, pregnant women and extend support to them”, he added.
In the view of former President Mahama, there was the need for the immediate development of a National Infectious Disease Response Plan to clearly set out the specific steps needed to address similar diseases.
“We must establish another medical research centre with capacity like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in the Northern part of Ghana”, he said and called for expansion of testing centres and upgrade of hospitals.
“It has become clear, in an era of pandemics and infectious diseases, that a reactionary approach does not offer a sustainable path to protecting our people and economy from the harmful effects of such outbreaks”, he said.
Mr Mahama advised Ghanaians to “Stay home, respect social distancing protocols and wash your hands with soap under running water regularly. We will win the fight against coronavirus, together.”
BY Cliff Ekuful
