Former Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has described as an illusion, the claim by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, that President Akufo-Addo’s government has put GHS12.2 billion into the pockets of Ghanaians.

He explained that the government has rather taken from Ghanaians an amount of GHS27.1 billion.

“I call this the great deception,” he stated.

Speaking Wednesday at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2020 budget forum held at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, he stated that the government has burdened citizens with hikes in prices of goods and services in the country.

The Minority Spokesperson on Finance and Economy explained that the reality was, the government has led citizens into economic hardships because of the increase in “price of fuel, transportation and unwarranted increase in utility prices.”

He added that the government had also burdened Ghanaians with tax increments and imposed levies on citizens stating the Communications Service Tax which he described as “burdensome” as such.  

“Unfortunately, we are going back as if we are a country that was actually founded yesterday,” he stated.

The former deputy Finance Minister also alleged that the country has lost some GHS13.7 billion to the government between the periods of January to August 2019 by way of an increase in petroleum and diesel prices.

According to him, the government made a profit from 7.6 billion litres of petroleum sold between the period of January to August 2019.

“If you are to factor in tax increases to the scenario you will notice that the amount of money taken from the ordinary Ghanaian is GHS27.2 billion,” he said.

Ato Forson urged Ghanaians to safeguard the country’s enviable record in economic and financial governance as he stated that Ghanaians had an important role to play in ensuring that.