"We Should Pay Churches, Not Tax Them": Bawumia Pledges To Incentivise Churches To Drive Development

"We Should Pay Churches, Not Tax Them": Bawumia Pledges To Incentivise Churches To Drive Development

  • The New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has promised to incentivise churches to drive development in the country
  • He said calls for the taxation of churches are misplaced and would not be countenanced by his future government
  • According to him, churches are the government's largest local development partner, and he intends to improve that relationship during his tenure

The New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has pledged to incentivise churches to undertake more developmental projects if he becomes president.

He said recent calls to tax churches are misplaced and would not be countenanced in his future government

Bawumia pledges to incentivise churches to bring about development
Bawumia says calls to tax churches are misplaced.
Source: Getty Images

He stated that those who call for the taxation of churches are oblivious to the many developmental projects that the church in Ghana has undertaken and is undertaking.

He touted the church as Ghana's largest local developmental partner at par with foreign donors.

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Dr Bawumia, during a meeting with clergy members in the Bono region for his nationwide campaign tour, stated that the churches are better positioned to drive development in Ghana.

He said his future government would be more than willing to incentivise and partner churches to provide developmental projects to communities nationwide.

He touted the church's significant investment in education and healthcare and its role in fostering social cohesion and peace as significant contributions to the development of Ghana.

“If you look at the church's work, we should instead be paying them instead of them paying us.
“So I don’t see, and I will not have a situation where we are taxing churches,” he stated.

Bawumia pledges to collaborate with churches

Meanwhile, Dr Bawumia pledged to collaborate with the clergy to address the country's developmental challenges.

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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia spoke in Takoradi on Thursday, May 2, during a meeting with clergy members during his Western Regional campaign tour.

According to him, just as God used kings of old to bring development to His people in the Bible, God can also use him to bring development to Ghana.

"I believe that something good can come from Walewale, and if God says that it should come from Walewale, it will come from Walewale," he stated.

He urged the clergy to continue praying for Ghana as the country nears the December 7 polls. Dr Bawumia said peace was essential to ensuring Ghana's rapid development.

Bawumia reveals why he wants to be president

YEN.com.gh reported that the New Patriotic Party's flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, says his reason for becoming president was to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians.

According to him, he is deeply committed to the progress and prosperity of Ghana and its people.

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He also said he has been adequately prepared to take over the mandate from Akufo-Addo and has thus urged Ghanaians to vote for him.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Cornerlis Affre avatar

Cornerlis Affre (CA and Politics Editor) Cornerlis Kweku Affre is a Current Affairs Editor at Yen.com. He covers politics, business, and other current affairs. He has worked with Myjoyonline.com for four years and was previously a radio host and news editor at RadioGIJ. You can reach out to him at cornerlis.affre@yen.com.gh