Source: ISSAH ZAKARIAH/thrillernewsgh.com

The government of Ghana is reported to have in a unanimous decision withdrawn a 15% Value added tax (Vat) on electricity users.

A report by Asaase News disclosed that its sources in government have confirmed that cabinet at a meeting on Friday, February 2, 2024, has unanimously agreed to drop the previously approved policy.

This means that power consumers will no longer be required to pay the controversial 15% VAT on top of their bills.

The government has also agreed to initiate a conversation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to come to a consensus on how it can make up for the revenue shortfall occasioned by the decision to drop the VAT on electricity policy through additional spending cuts.

What is clear is that even though the proposal to charge 15% VAT on electricity was previously approved by cabinet, and also by Parliament, the reaction of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and others to the proposed policy has led to a serious rethink and the decision to reverse it.

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As to what the final decision on the policy will be, as in if it is to be completely scrapped, Asaase Newssources familiar with the cabinet decision said that this will become clearer after engagements with the IMF.

“The position currently is that the 15% VAT on electricity is off, and it is likely it could either be off totally or significantly slashed,” the Asaase News sources said, on condition of anonymity.

The National Peace Council (NPC) held a stakeholder workshop to finalise the draft of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Religious Tolerance and Freedom in Private and Government Assisted Mission Schools in Ghana.

The MOU seeks to promote a safe and healthy learning environment for learners, teaching, and non – teaching staff in accordance with the law and school regulations.

Speaking at the workshop on Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 at the Ange Hill View Hotel, the Chairman of NPC, Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi said the Council was inundated with concerns about religious tolerance in schools, as some religious militants emerging across the country were escalating matters in a specific direction, and that clarity was needed on issues.

He said that, it is part of our mandate to resolve conflicts, so as part of the process, we have to complete and come out with a document that would finalize this for us to move on as a country.
He added that, it is important for the public and the students to understand the objectives of such schools, know what they can or cannot do while there and accommodate all those who are not like them but are also there to study. We have coexisted as a people, and we should not allow these religious militants to come into the educational system.

Once finalized, the draft would be made public and handed to the Ministry of Education (MoE) as an agreement signed by all Mission schools.

The workshop was attended by representatives from Conference of Managers of Educational Units (COMEU), Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Office of the National Chief Imam, Christian Council of Ghana amongst others.

Source: National Peace Council