Ghana’s government halts controversial electricity tax after public outcry

e4bc0869 fcee 4182 87c6 b6883f7d3724

Ghana's government has halted the implementation of a planned 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on the domestic consumption of electricity.

The tax which is targeted at residential customers has since been protested by many labour unions and Ghanaians.

Following this, the Finance Ministry directed the state institutions responsible for the supply of power to suspend any such deductions pending further discussions with stakeholders.

In a press release issued on February 7, the Ministry instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd. (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to hold on to a previous order for the implementation of the said tax.

The Ministry further indicated that arrangements are underway to meet with Organised Labour for a resolution to the development.

“On behalf of the Government, MoF would like to inform ECG and NEDCO to suspend the implementation of the VAT directive pending further engagements with key stakeholders including Organised Labour.

“The Ministry expects that these engagements will birth innovative robust and inclusive approaches to bridging the existing fiscal gap while bolstering economic resilience,” the statement further added.

Earlier, labour unions opposed the new tax and announced nationwide protests against it on February 13.

These labour unions insist on their planned nationwide demonstrations against the implementation of the policy if the tax is not totally withdrawn.

Here is a statement from the Ministry of Finance

More from Qonversations

Tech

iTanong Phillipines

What is iTanong and how is it rivaling ChatGPT in the Philippines?

Uncategorized

a9b8d167 c741 4cc0 8a7c ace24775a016

How Kenyan nonprofit is using sports to transform lives of underprivileged children

Uncategorized

Artificial Intelligence

Is Indonesia ready to lead the AI revolution with Sahabat-AI?

Uncategorized

ca4795b3 b30d 4296 9c12 d6836104ff78

Ousmane Sonko’s appointment as prime minister: A long-awaited breakthrough for Senegal?

Front of mind