Parliament has approved a tax waiver of Import Duties, Import Vat, Getfund Levy, NHIL Levy, Ecowas Levy, Exim Levy, Special Import Levy, AU Levy and other taxes for four organizations amounting to the sum GHC 41, 480,946.16 in total.
The Metro Mass Transit, the Intercity STC Company Ltd, the Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development, and the Ghana Immigration Service are the beneficiary organizations who have been exempted from the payment of these taxes for the clearing of some goods procured in their names at the country’s ports.
Except for the Ghana Immigration Service whose tax waiver was granted on the weapons which were donated to it from external sources for its operations, the waivers for the other three organizations are on vehicles to be procured for their operational efficiency.
According to the report of the Committee of Finance of Parliament which made the recommendations for the approval of the tax waivers, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has received a donation of ammunition for its services to the nation.
However, as part of the agreement GIS is required to bear the taxes and duties for the clearance of the consignment. The total tax liability computed by the Ghana Revenue Authority on the consignment amounted to GHC 841,645.20.
The Metro Mass Transit which has been recognized for the provision of social transport services to both rural and urban dwellers at moderate fares, has been granted an estimated duty of GHC 14, 785,658.77 payable on an additional 50 buses procured for their services which has arrived at the Tema Port.
Waiver of taxes amounting to GHC 25,144,989.27 has been granted to the Intercity STC Ltd on one hundred buses procured to enable the company enhance its operations and to enable them to continue to provide reliable and affordable public transport services especially to the rural-urban population.
The Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development on the other hand enjoyed a total tax liability computed by the Ghana Revenue Authority amounting to GHC 708,652.92 for the procurement of vehicles for the newly created regions to help accelerated development in all parts of the country.
Source: Clement Akoloh || businessweekghana.com
