Compulsory first aid kit levy was not sanctioned by gov’t – Hamid

Information Minister, Mustapha Abdul Hamid, has said the controversial tax on first aid kits that the DVLA tried to impose on vehicle owners was done on the blind side of government.

The DVLA sought to introduce the compulsory charge of GH?108 for the acquisition of first aid kits for new vehicle owners seeking to register their vehicles, however, the decision was met with stiff opposition from the public on grounds that vehicle owners reserve the right to purchase such items by themselves at a cheaper cost.

The Transport Ministry has since ordered the DVLA to halt the levy that was thought to have been the government’s attempt to shore up its tax base.

Speaking on Upfront, a current affairs programme on the Joy News channel, Mr Hamid revealed that knowledge about the compulsory levy came as a surprise to him and the sector Minister, Kweku Ofori Asiamah, and his deputy, Titus Glover.

“The press release [announcing the compulsory levy] was done by a board chairman of DVLA rather than the sector minister for transport...so that tells you that the decision was taken purely by the agency...so it was not a government decision,” he told show host Raymond Acquah, Thursday.

He adds: Major government decisions are taken at Cabinet meetings and implemented or driven by sector ministers.”

He said had the DVLA engaged major stakeholders in the industry, the backlash the policy received would have been avoided.

Related: First aid kit was to make gov't unpopular; we won't allow it - Titus Glover

“Some even insulted the President, because of that the Minister of Transport has to step in. The public outcry shows it is not correct,” he said.

The Minority in Parliament firmed up public opposition to the levy when it urged drivers on Wednesday to refuse to pay the levy, describing the cost as overpriced.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs say the GH¢108 kit is going for GH¢10 on the open market.

"This is an illegal fee that must not be tolerated", Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza, told Joy News Wednesday.

The Minority also threatened to sue DVLA if it did not stop the illegal charges.

 

 

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