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Organized labour has suspended its planned demonstration over the Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity following the government’s decision to suspend the controversial tax.
Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, announced the suspension of the demonstration at a press conference in Accra on Friday, February 9.
“We gave the government until January 31st to withdraw the letter and warned authorities that if by that time the Minister of Finance had not given the directive to stop the VAT, we would advise ourselves.
“On February 2, 2024, the leadership of organized labour met and we resolved that there will be a nationwide demonstration on February 13. The government announced the suspension of the implementation of VAT on electricity consumption. The leadership of organized labour has received a formal letter informing us of the new directive. We would therefore like to inform our members that the planned demonstration slated for 13th February has been suspended.”
The Finance Ministry directed ECG and NEDCo to suspend the implementation of the proposed 15% VAT on electricity consumption.
The move to impose a tax on the consumption of electricity by residential customers has received stiff opposition from various quarters.
The Ministry of Finance, in a statement dated February 7, 2024, has asked the two entities (ECG and NEDCo) to suspend the tax measure while the government continues to hold further engagements with stakeholders.
“On behalf of the government, the MoF would like to inform ECG and NEDCO to suspend the implementation of the VAT directive pending further engagements with key stakeholders, including organized labour,” parts of the statement read.
The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) also described the tax measure as ”insensitive and anti-business.”
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is hopeful that its pending engagements will yield positive results to bridge the fiscal gap while strengthening businesses.
“The ministry expects that these engagements will birth innovative and inclusive approaches to bridging the fiscal gap while bolstering economic resilience,” it concluded.
Read the full statement below:
