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How Can We Justify This? - Kwesi Pratt Shocked Over VAT Increment After Akufo-Addo's 1995 'Kumepreko' Demo

The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr is disappointed in government's decision to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Akufo-Addo-led administration in its 2023 budget proposed a 2.5 VAT increment "to directly support our roads and digitalization agenda; Fast-track the implementation of the Unified Property Rate Platform programme in 2023".

Kwesi Pratt speaking in reaction to this recalled when he, now President Akufo-Addo, and others embarked on a "Kumepreko" demonstration in 1995, protesting against VAT. He doesn't understand why President Akufo-Addo who was part of the "Kumepreko" demonstration now wants to increase the tax which was described as "regressive".


"If it was to be another administration, we can understand, but not under this current administration," he said on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'. 

"In 1995 I was part of Kumepreko demonstration describing VAT as a regressive tax. The statement was written by Dr Wereko Brobby and read by Akufo-Addo at a press conference; criticizing and condemning the government leading to the death of some people. Unfortunately, some of these people are now in government and have increased this same tax astronomically. How can we justify this? I don't understand," he added.

Listen to him in the video below