Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

No increase in VAT - Ken Ofori Atta

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jul - 19 - 2018 , 11:43

The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori Atta has announced that there will be no increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) as speculated.

"I will also like to advise our friends [Minority], that we should stop taking directions on economic policy from social media. Mr Speaker, VAT will be maintained at 12 and half percent," Mr Ofori Atta said whilst presenting the mid-year budget review in Parliament on Thursday.

He explained the measures were to ensure that the country meets its fiscal deficit target of 4.5 per cent and ensure that the country exit the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

There were suggestions ahead of the budget review that government was going to add three per cent to VAT.

Following the speculation, the Minority in Parliament launched an attack on the Akufo-Addo led government and described it as an insensitive government

The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson at a press conference said the economy was heading towards a dangerous terrain.

But explaining, Mr Ofori Atta said: "We are converting the National Health Insurance of 2.5 per cent to a straight levy of 2.5 per cent. Mr Speaker, we are converting the GETFund Value Added Tax rate of 2.5 per cent to a strict levy of 2.5 per cent."