NEWSPOLITICAL

Anti-LGBTQ+ bill before Parliament, 3 revenue bills to be considered

The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the house passes the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.

In Parliament yesterday, the Committee said, a majority of Ghanaians are in favour of the legislation.

While admitting that the bill had “significant human rights concerns”, the Committee informed the House that it petitioned the Attorney-General for its opinion.

The 18-page document which was signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi has told Parliament to “pass into law, the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, subject to the amendments proffered by the Committee.”

Mr Anyimadu-Antwi indicated that the decision was reached after considering the advice of the Attorney General.

LGBTQ+

The controversial LGBT bill is a private member bill that was presented to Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

The bill, also known as Anti-Gay Bill, and now with the Constitutional, Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, is a Private Members’ Bill championed by eight legislators, seeking to outlaw the LGBTQ+ and adjacent activities, and stipulating jail terms for offenders, sympathisers and funders.

Since its introduction to Parliament, the Anti-Gay Bill has generated a lot of interest with different dimensions as it awaits consideration by the House.

Although the Bill is in Parliament, the LGBTQ+ topic surface into limelight again during the US Vice President, Kamala Harris’ visit to Ghana.

Madam Harris addressing the gathering said “I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally.

She added that: “I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change”.

Revenue bills

Meanwhile, three outstanding revenue bills await passage to advance Ghana’s $3 billion programme to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board for approval for the country to ease its current economic difficulties.

The bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bills as well as the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill.

Cumulatively, the bills are expected to rake in GH₵4 billion annually. The Bank of Ghana has said the fiscal reforms will provide significant reduction of debt service and help create fiscal space.

Income Tax Bill

The object of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to revise the rates of income tax for individuals and introduce an additional income tax bracket.

It will introduce a withholding tax rate on the realisation of assets and liabilities and on winnings from lottery, unify the loss carried forward provisions and revise the treatment of foreign exchange losses.

The Bill will also increase the optional rate for individuals on the gain from the realisation of an investment asset, revise the upper limits for the quantification of motor vehicle benefits and increase the concessional income tax rates.

Excise Duty Bill

The object of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Excise Duty Act, 2014 (Act 878) to revise the excise tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products to conform with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols and raise revenue to mitigate the harmful effects of these excisable products.

The Bill will increase the excise duty in respect of wine, malt drinks and spirits; and impose excise duty on sweetened beverages and electronic cigarettes and electronic liquids to increase revenue.

The ECOWAS directive on the harmonisation of excise duties on tobacco products directs that the excise duty on tobacco products must include an ad valorem duty and a specific duty.

The Bill also seeks to amend Act 878 to implement this Directive in line with Ghana being a member of ECOWAS.

Growth and Sustainability Levy

The object of the Bill is to impose a special levy to be known as the Growth and Sustainability Levy to raise revenue for growth and fiscal sustainability of the economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in revenues and increased expenditure enormously. The double jeopardy of the Russian-Ukraine war has also resulted in unprecedented global crises, depreciation in currencies and impacted living conditions and inflation levels.

The introduction of the Growth and Sustainability Levy is part of Government’s efforts to raise funds for carrying out these interventions.

The Levy is to be imposed on profit before tax of the companies and institutions and on production in the case of mining, upstream oil and gas companies specified in the first column of the Schedule.


 

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