Parliament has approved an incentive package and tax waivers for the one district one factory, 1D1F, policy despite opposition from the Minority.
The package waives taxes on machinery and equipment for operators under the policy and includes corporate tax exemption for five years.
The Minority’s main argument against the package is that no amount is mentioned regarding the waivers which basically gives a blank cheque to the operators in terms of tax waivers but the Majority group insists all individual requests will be considered on a case by case basis and brought to Parliament.
An incentive package from the government for the operators of the One-district One-factory programme was earlier met with stiff opposition from Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee.
The package, which includes tax exemptions and tax holiday periods of up to five years, among other things, was under consideration at the committee level after it was presented to the House earlier.
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The government had indicated that about 181 factories were at various stages of development, but the Deputy Ranking Member of the Trade and Industry Committee of Parliament, Yusif Sulemana said the government must give details and exact amounts in taxes reliefs it is estimating to grant to operators of the factory.
“The process where some taxes would be exempted from those who are going to benefit from 1D1F is a blank request. I was in that meeting and we realized that it was just like asking us to sign a blank cheque. Yes, the constitution mandates parliament to waive taxes…we want to know that this is how much the taxes will accumulate to and we are asking parliament to weigh that tax,†he said.
 Deputy Trade Minister inspects B5 Plus’ $80m steel project under 1D1F
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah , has inspected the progress of work on B5 Plus Limited’s $80 million steel and manufacturing plant project under the government’s One district one factory, 1D1F, initiative.
His visit to the site at Ningo-Prampram comes eight months after he cut the sod for work to commence on the project. It would be recalled that Mr. Ahenkorah was at the site in September 2018 to cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.
Eight months after the first visit, Mr. Ahenkorah arrived at the site surprised at the rate at which work had progressed on the project.
“On entering here, I must say that I am so surprised. I have been overwhelmed with what has been achieved within this short space of eight months†he said.
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