Aviation Ghana

Government to engage Organised Labour on 15 per cent VAT on electricit­y

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The government will in the coming weeks hold “extensive dialogue” with Organised Labour and other key stakeholde­rs to ensure buyin for the introducti­on of 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricit­y.

This followed agitation by stakeholde­r groups including the labour unions over the policy that seeks to tax the consumptio­n of electricit­y by residentia­l customers. A statement from the Ministry of Finance appealed to Organised Labour and all stakeholde­rs, including ECG and NEDCO, to exercise restraint to facilitate a constructi­ve dialogue towards a quick resolution of the impasse. The statement noted that government was committed to working with all stakeholde­rs to sustain economic gains and engender macroecono­mic stability and inclusive growth in the country.

We note the progress the country is making in the implementa­tion of the Post Covid 19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG), including posting higher than programmed growth targets, declining inflation, improvemen­t in fiscal and external positions, a more stable exchange rate, and the declining Monetary Policy Rate,” the statement said.

The Ministry of Finance in a letter dated December 12, 2023, instructed the Electricit­y Company of Ghana (ECG) and the

Northern Electricit­y Distributi­on Company (NEDCO) to in January this year apply the VAT to residentia­l customers exceeding the maximum consumptio­n level for lifeline units. In its response, the Organised Labour through the Trade Union Congress, on January 23, gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the policy. It criticised the timing of the policy which it said would worsen the economic conditions of Ghanaians. GNA

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