Government has extended its free water and electricity for lifeline consumers to June 2021, caretaker Minister for Finance, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on Friday announced.
Presenting the 2021 budget statement and economic policies of government in Parliament on the theme: “Completion, Consolidation and Continuation”, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the decision to extend the programme is to lessen the plight of the vulnerable.
“I am happy to announce that His Excellency the president has approved the continuation of the provision of free water to up to 5 cubic meters that is 1000 gallons per month to vulnerable groups,” he said.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added: “In addition, we will continue to provide electricity to lifeline consumers up to the end of June 2021 when it is expected that many Ghanaians would have been vaccinated.”
Government in April last year announced its intention to absorb electricity and water tariffs to make up for lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant lockdown and restrictions.
Government has also in the 2021 budget statement announced the suspension of vehicle income tax for commercial public transports, popularly called trotros and taxis, to reduce the cost of transportation under its tax relief programme.
Small businesses will also enjoy the suspension of income tax stamp payments, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also announced tax relieves of 30% on corporate income tax to benefit hotels, restaurants, education, arts and entertainment as well as travel and tours sectors.
“A waiver of penalty and interest on accumulated tax arrears up to December 2020 to reduce cash flow challenges will also target companies and individuals,” he noted.
Source: asaaseradio
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Free water and electricity is a good thing but when the people are able to stand on their feet is the best .Ghana is spending more than it can produce which is dangerous for the future .Loans sent to country are divided into so many ways and some go waste ( to somebody's pocket ). Our system is full foreign jobs who take the money away .The money that circulate in the country are mostly spent by the leadership of the country(buy houses ,lands use for their girl friends ) .Now MP wants increment in their salary apart from ,ex-gratia ,allowances for garden boy, etc patrol( they can leave their cars engines for so many hours on while they out of the car ) ,back kick of approving contracts ,providing food stuff and filling their refrigerator and now they need police protection for each one of them .Most government jobs are not profitable , monies are put in there with no accountable( they employ their own people in there and they whatever they wants) .All these are not good for the future .If we can change our ways we have a stable economy .Ghana should work to feed itself and able to provide our basic needs . Ghana should work to export more to get foreign exchange and put in policy that will not allow our foreign friends to send all the monies to their country .At this stage where things are hard you, have increase fuel which affect everything .