Many people are perplexed after reading a social media post about a car dealer who experienced a sharp increase in the final duty and taxes due for an imported vehicle within a month.
Sharing the specifics of the tax invoice, the anticipated payment amount increased from GH49,000 to GH55,000 in a single month.
The initial cost is reduced by GH6,000 by this new charge.
Among the roughly 11 fees levied on a single car were the ECOWAS levy, Network Charge COVID Health, Network Charge VAT, Import NHIL, and Network Charge NHIL.
A Twitter user identified as @BrodoSchemes shared the invoice detailing the rather significant change on his page saying; “From 49k to 55k real quick! A difference in just about a month.”
His post has since drawn varied reactions from Ghanaians on Twitter who bemoaned the increase and indicated that the system is somewhat designed to deprive citizens of making headway in their daily lives.
Another car dealer, sharing a similar experience on the same app said a 2015 Honda Civic duty cost almost GH¢33,000 while the container fee cost around GH¢3,400.
He added that should the agent, clearing and towing charges come into effect, one would be looking at paying about GH¢40,000 in duty charges at the ports for the vehicle.
In reaction to the post, another tweep wrote, “For you to understand what this man is saying better, let me give you some small comparison…Duty for a 2016 Honda Civic in May 2021 was GH¢ 15,527.40.”
Meanwhile, some users have attributed the profiteering nature of Ghanaians to the cause of the high import duty on goods.