[ad_1]
By
Christopher Arko, RNG
Accra, April 4, GNA – Mr. Cbadiel Ato Forson,
member of the finance rankings, expressed his disappointment to the government
decision to grant huge tax exemptions to ExxonMobil when approving the new
Agreement.
"Let me tell you that personally I am disappointed
aujourd & # 39; hui. I think the donation was too much, as far as we, as
countries have failed in our negotiations. "
Mr Forson reacted to Parliament's reaction
approval of the oil deal between the government, the National Assembly of Ghana
Petroleum Corporation, and ExxonMobil and Goil Offshore for exploration and
Production of the three points block of Deepwater Cape.
Mr. Forson is concerned about the
negotiations on what he described as an additional oil right, which
would not be for the benefit of the country.
He argued that the withholding tax on the dividend,
which should have been maintained at eight percent, was instead reduced to zero
percent in violation of the country's tax laws.
He was also worried about the
Withholding Tax for Subcontractors and Affiliates Providing Services
at ExxonMobil, which should be maintained at 15%, but had been reduced
per cent, while that of local businesses was also reduced by 7.5 per cent
one to five percent, which represents a huge loss of revenue.
Mr. Forson said contrary to the law of income tax
(Law 896), which states that ExxonMobil could defer its losses to five
years, it has now been extended to 10 years.
He stated that all tax exemptions granted to ExxonMobil
in the agreement had huge repercussions on the income of the nation.
Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, former
Minister of Energy, said that it was good to welcome ExxonMobil into the oil industry
sector, the nation must ensure that it has not lost.
He said the country needs to make sure that the
Agreement with ExxonMobil balanced in key terms
provisions.
Mr Buah said that the agreement ratified by
Parliament was in complete violation of the country's tax laws.
"It's sad for me to say that the agreement
what has been ratified is in complete violation of our fiscal law …. I think it's
important that we address these issues with respect to withholding tax, capital
… benefits. "
"The danger is that we are going to define the
precedent that any company that comes to Ghana in search of oil, would
given the same exemption that you granted to ExxonMobil. "
Dr. Mohammed Amin Anta, Deputy Minister of
In response to the demand of the minority, Energy said that despite the
the exemptions granted to ExxonMobil the net oil that Ghana would obtain is up to 84
percent, which is the highest so far in the history of the country.
He explained that the last net oil of the country
under the administration of the National Democratic Congress was 74%.
He said of the 13 oil companies that the NDC
The government did not sign any of them because they could not lift
US $ 890 million, they were needed for their operations.
"We are looking at companies that are
competent, and with ExxonMobil, you can not challenge their competence. "
Dr. Anta claimed that it was very simplistic for
the minority to compare the previous oil agreements, which were shallow
block of oil, at present ExxonMobil which was ultra-deep water block.
He explained that all the oil companies that
had come to Ghana in terms of their average seismic acquisition were about
1,000 km 2 but that of Exxon was 2,200 km 2.
He said for the first time, the technology
transfers and the annual contribution to training are the highest, ie seven
millions of dollars and two million dollars a year, respectively.
"So look at the exemption we give but
look also at what we get from Exxon, which we did not receive
another company in Ghana, "he said.
GNA
Source link
