NPP MPs Accuse Mahama Of Illegally Granting Dzata Cement Tax Waivers: "We Did Not Complain"

NPP MPs Accuse Mahama Of Illegally Granting Dzata Cement Tax Waivers: "We Did Not Complain"

  • The Majority Caucus in Parliament has accused the Mahama administration of illegally granting Dzata Cement a tax exemption
  • Dzata Cement Limited is notably run by the former president's brother, Ibrahim Mahama
  • Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin was making the case for the approval of new tax waivers

The Majority Caucus in Parliament has accused the Mahama administration of illegally granting Dzata Cement a tax exemption.

The caucus claimed that former President John Dramani Mahama, through executive authorisation, designated Dzata Cement as a strategic investor and offered tax waivers without recourse to parliamentary approval.

NPP MPs Accuse Mahama Of Illegally Granting Dzata Cement Tax Waivers
Dzata Cement is run by former President John Mahama's brother. Source: John Dramani Mahama/Dzata Cement Limited
Source: Facebook

Dzata Cement is notably run by the former president's brother, Ibrahim Mahama. Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged the Minority Caucus to support the government’s quest to industrialise the economy by offering tax exemptions to companies under the One District, One Factory policy.

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Afenyo-Markin cited the Dzata Cement claim as an example of why the Minority should support the current push for tax incentives.

“Dzata Cement was a company that benefitted from these unconstitutional and illegal tax incentives... Dzata Cement was granted a tax waiver, and we did not complain because we were told that Dzata Cement was a strategic investor.”

The Majority had earlier petitioned the Speaker of Parliament for the urgent reconvening of the House.

This was to address issues like the additional Financing Agreement between the government and the International Development Association (IDA) for US$150 million to finance the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.

There was also a Request for Tax Exemption for selected beneficiaries under the One-District-One-Factory Programme.

The additional financing agreement and the approval of new ministers were passed during the recall, but the tax waiver petition has stalled.

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Ibrahim Mahama captured departing from Ghana in his private jet

YEN.com.gh reported that Ibrahim Mahama shared a video of his departure from Ghana on his private jet, engaging airport workers.

He asked followers to guess his destination for a prize, showing a down-to-earth demeanour.

Ibrahim Mahama, owner of Engineers and Planners and Dzata Cement Limited, demonstrated his humility despite his wealth.

Proofread by Edwina N.K Quarcoo, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.