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Breaking News: Govt Officially Suspends VAT on Electricity

The government has formally halted the implementation of the 15 percent value-added tax on domestic electricity consumption.

The Ministry of Finance has thus instructed both the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company to halt the imposition of the tax.

The Ministry of Finance issued a press release on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, stating this.

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The suspension, according to the Ministry, is intended to facilitate extensive discussion and to garner the support of industry players and trade unions, given the serious concerns raised regarding its impact on consumers and enterprises.

The two are related. The MoF, on behalf of the government, would like to notify ECG and NEDCO of the decision to suspend the implementation of the VAT directive pending further discussions with key stakeholders, including organized labor.

There is a 3. The Ministry anticipates that these interactions will yield fresh, robust, and inclusive strategies for closing the current fiscal chasm, while bolstering financial stability.

Earlier reports indicated that the government was contemplating negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to reach a consensus on the anticipated revenue shortfall, which would allow for the abolition of the VAT on electricity.

The Ministry expects these engagements to birth innovative, robust, and inclusive approaches to bridging the existing fiscal gap, while bolstering economic resilience.

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A nationwide demonstration on February 13, 2024, was planned by the labor movement, calling on the government to revoke the directive to implement the 15% VAT on residential electricity consumption.

Members wore red bands at work earlier this week to signal the possibility of a nationwide strike if the VAT directive isn’t revoked after the demonstration.