Ghana’s Finance Ministry has revealed that the country lost GHȼ4.6 billion to tax expenditures in 2023—a 4.2% drop from the GHȼ4.8 billion recorded in 2022.

While the decline suggests a modest improvement, the scale of these exemptions—particularly import waivers—continues to raise concerns about Ghana’s fiscal health and revenue mobilization efforts.

Where Did the Money Go?

Tax expenditures refer to revenues forgone due to preferential tax treatments. In Ghana, these typically include exemptions on domestic taxes and import duties.

In 2023, import exemptions dominated, accounting for GHȼ3.545 billion—or 76.76% of the total. Domestic indirect tax exemptions amounted to GHȼ809 million, while domestic direct tax exemptions were GHȼ264.02 million.

Import exemptions have steadily increased, rising from GHȼ2.46 billion in 2021 to GHȼ3.545 billion in 2023.

The largest share came from parliamentary exemptions, which totalled GHȼ1.7 billion—representing 37% of all tax expenditures and nearly half of the import exemptions. 

The Controversy Over Parliamentary Exemptions

Parliamentary exemptions—granted under parliamentary resolutions—cover a broad range of public and publicly guaranteed projects financed through loans, aid, or grants.

They also extend to benefits for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Council of State members, such as vehicle tax waivers.

In 2023, these exemptions included:

• GHȼ1.3 billion for mining companies
• GHȼ460 million for grant-funded projects
• GHȼ40.9 million for the One District One Factory (1D1F) program
• GHȼ3.9 million for MPs and Council of State members’ vehicle tax waivers 

The World Bank has repeatedly called for Ghana to rationalise its import duty waivers, warning that excessive exemptions erode the country’s revenue base.

The NDC minority in the 8^th Parliament also resisted certain waivers in the wee hours of the outgoing NPP government, particularly those under the 1D1F initiative, arguing that such exemptions disproportionately benefit a select few while undermining public finances.

A Sign of Progress?

Despite the rising value of import exemptions, their share of total tax revenue has declined—from 5.74% in 2018 to 3.14% in 2023.

The Finance Ministry attributes this to a more streamlined exemption regime, fewer project-related disbursements, and improved revenue collection.

Still, tax expenditures remain a significant drain on public funds. As Ghana faces ongoing economic challenges, the government faces a difficult balancing act—offering incentives to attract investment while preserving vital revenue streams.

With a tighter borrowing environment, every cedi saved from unnecessary exemptions is critical for sustaining public finances.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

The Central Regional Poultry Farmers Association has called for a clear policy that would inspire and sustain the poultry industry.

The Association said there was no government policy direction for the poultry industry, unlike crop farmers who received incentives to enhance production.

The call was made at a seminar organised by the Central Regional Poultry Farmers Association in conjunction with the ECO Feeding Ghana Limited at Agona Swedru to educate farmers on challenges and solutions to maximize more returns.

Some of the topics treated were heat stress in poultry production, the importance of assessing veterinary services and technical information to the poultry farmer, effective broiler production all year round to meet local markets and many others.

The participants were drawn from Gomoa East, Gomoa Central, Awutu Senya- West, Awutu Senya- East, Agona West and East, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Cape Coast and Ajumako- Enyan-Esiam Districts.

Nana Dr Darko Asamoah, Central Regional Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, said the planting for food and jobs policy did not capture poultry farmers.

He said the lack of access to capital to expand farms to meet market demand had become a major problem facing the farmers.

The chairman appealed to the government to support the poultry industry in Ghana with capital and acquisition of land to encourage the youth to go into the poultry business.

Nana Dr Asamoah called on the government to encourage and support all Senior High Schools to have poultry farms to reduce expenditure on chicken and eggs.

He urged the government to as a matter of urgency, recruit more veterinary staff to support poultry farmers, adding that it was important also to set up veterinary clinics and laboratories to ensure proper care of animals.

The Chairman asked the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant development partners to organise regular training and education for farmers to update them on the importance of poultry farms.

Nana Dr Asamoah said Ghana needed 350 metric tonnes of poultry but at the moment, farmers could only produce 15 metric tonnes, which was woefully inadequate due to many obstacles.

The Chairman said Central region formerly had more than 3,800 poultry farmers, but many had folded up leaving only 1, 260 who were facing challenges which needed government urgent intervention to salvage the industry from collapse.

He said the poultry industry in the region employed more than 10,000 direct workforce, reducing the unemployment pressure.

Dr Peter Omega, the Central Regional Director of Agriculture, urged the poultry farmers to form strong cooperatives to have a united front to enable them receive the incentive packages intended to be rolled out by the new Minister of Agriculture.

The Regional Director said it was easier for cooperatives to receive financial and logistical support from both government and external partners to cultivate maize farms in large quantities to feed their birds.

He expressed concern about inadequate staffing of veterinary and extension officers in the region, making it extremely difficult for the few officers to offer the required and needful services to poultry and crop farmers.

Dr Omega added his voice to the government by recruiting more staff for both extension and veterinary officers to improve efficiency in the agriculture department.

The Regional Director expressed optimism that the experts’ advice to the farmers would be used to maximize the needed returns to produce more meat and eggs to feed the country.

Mr Tiago Ferreira, a visiting Portuguese poultry Farmer, and a poultry expert, urged farmers to heed the advice on heat stress which was a major challenge in poultry farming, to ensure the safety of their animals.

Mr Tiago also called on farmers to apply modern methods of feeding and other relevant ways that could make the animals more robust to withstand all forms of challenges that may occur in poultry production.

Watch the latest episode of Health Focus below

Pooley was murdered on February 2

The police officer standing trial for the murder of popular Kumasi Asante Kotoko fan, Francis Frimpong alias Nana Pooley, has been granted a GH¢300,000 bail with two sureties by the Sunyani District Court B.

According to a Graphic Sports publication, Agyemang Duah Owusu, a 42-year-old police inspector, was granted bail during a court sitting on February 17, 2025.

As part of the bail conditions, Owusu must submit his passport to the court registry within three days.

The report furthered that the court reviewed the bail conditions of the other suspects, which include Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the former Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Joseph Kyeremeh, Elizabeth Akosua Ntiwaa, and Yaa Asantewaa.

The new terms of their bail allow them to either travel or leave Sunyani of their own accord without any judicial restrictions.

They have since been charged with “abetment to commit a crime, to wit murder,” under Sections 20 (1) and 46 of the Criminal Offenses Act 1960 (Act 29), and they must report to the police once every week. They are to reappear before the court on March 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, the court denied bail to three other suspects – Isaac Fosu, Augustine Yeboah, and Yaw Koshy.

The trio are facing charges of murder and are expected to appear before the court again on March 3, 2025.

Francis Frimpong alias Nana Pooley was stabbed during a melee that ensued in a Ghana Premier League match between Nsoatreman FC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko on March 2, 2025, at the Nana Konamansah Park in Twumasikrom near Nsoatre, in the Bono Region.

Meanwhile, a former member of the Management Committee of Asante Kotoko has promised a GH¢10,000 reward for anyone who volunteers information that leads directly to the arrest of the main suspect in the case.

Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians tell Dede Ayew to retire from Black Stars to protect his legacy

EK

Acquiring land/property in Ghana is much more complex and involves more processes than simply buying tomatoes at the Dome market. It, therefore, requires careful due diligence, legal considerations, and thorough verification of ownership, unlike the quick and straightforward transaction of purchasing produce at the market.

As a result of the complexity associated with land/property purchase, it is advisable to always engage a lawyer to lead the transaction. This will help mitigate risks associated with the transaction and avoid needless and costly surprises after the purchase.

A client consulted me some time ago concerning a piece of land he intended to purchase. The purchase price of the land was six hundred thousand Ghana cedis. The client did not understand why he should pay a small percentage of the purchase price of the land to me as legal fees. To him, paying a lawyer to lead the land transaction for him was not worth its weight in gold since he could personally transact with the seller.

Six months later, the client came back to my office. He had personally transacted with the seller and purchased the land. After he had paid all six hundred thousand Ghana cedis to the seller, he went onto the land and attempted to develop it, only to be stopped by some other individuals claiming ownership of the same land.

Eventually, it turned out that about four families were laying claim to the same piece of land hence, it was a subject of litigation in court. He now thought it wise to engage me to represent him in court. This time around, it cost him double the initial amount he was to pay as legal fees. This is why a lawyer should be engaged in the first place.

When the buyer consults a lawyer prior to the purchase, the lawyer will undertake the following steps in his conduct of due diligence on behalf of the buyer:

Preliminary Enquiries And Searches

It is a principle of law that there is no ownerless land in Ghana. Every inch of land in Ghana is owned by a stool, clan, family, individual, or the state upon acquisition. Subsequently, anyone desirous of acquiring land must acquire it from the entity that owns it and has the legal right to part with its ownership.

Laws that govern land administration in Ghana are complex, but one would not be excused if one buys land from a person under the erroneous impression that the said person in law could sell it because that person has an interest in the land, and it turns out that the laws do not clothe the person with the requisite capacity to sell it.

2.Verify the Identity Of the Vendor(Seller)

A prospective landowner must know his seller and further ascertain if the said seller is the proper entity to sell the land. It is a notorious fact that prospective landowners are duped by fraudsters who have been styling themselves as agents. In some cases, a person may be under the impression that he could sell land under his possession just to find out that, in law, he is not the proper person to sell it.

In verifying the identity of the seller, any state-issued form of identification should be requested to ascertain the identity of the seller. Beyond the use of different means of identification, the prospective buyer’s lawyer will go to the property,y which is the subject of the transaction, to enquire about the identity of the prospective seller from his/her neighbours.

A prospective landowner must know his seller and further ascertain if the said seller is the proper entity to sell the land. It is a notorious fact that prospective landowners are duped by fraudsters who have been styling themselves as agents. In some cases, a person may be under the impression that he could sell land under his possession just to find out that, in law, he is not the proper person to sell it.

In verifying the identity of the seller, any state-issued form of identification should be requested to ascertain the identity of the seller. Beyond the use of different means of identification, the prospective buyer’s lawyer will go to the proper, ty which is the subject of the transaction, to enquire about the identity of the prospective seller from his/her neighbours.

3. The Seller’s Duty to Prove Title

The seller is under obligation either to show that he is the owner of the interest in the land which is available for sale or to prove that someone else can be compelled to transfer that interest to the buyer. This is what is termed a good title. If it is registered land, the seller can do this by producing the land title certificate a search report from the Lands Commission with an attached site plan indicating the record of previous registration of deeds and judgments. For unregistered lands, an abstract of title should be produced. An abstract of title is a summary of all the instruments (indenture), documents, facts, and events, which together show that the seller has a title.

4. Evaluate Documents of Ownership

A major way to determine ownership of land is to evaluate the title documents. The site plan describes the land and provides measurements and locality, among other things. The site plan is enclosed in most instruments. The site plan should be consistent with the description of the land in the instrument. The instrument is the document granting title to the seller. It could be a conveyance, lease, assignment, or sublease. Where the property is inherited, wills, probates, letters of administration, and vesting assents should be provided for the necessary checks to be done.

You must also know the duration of the interest in the land. Most people assume that every land acquisition is for 99 years, but that is not so. In most assignments, the residue (number of years remaining) is not indicated, so one has to call for the head lease. The head lease is the main lease agreement between the seller, who has a leasehold interest in the land and his lessor (usually a stool or family).

Some assignments (transfer of the residue of a leasehold interest to another) have 10-20 years as the residue, and the naive prospective buyer happily acquires it, believing it’s a long-term lease.

5.Go with a Licensed Surveyor to the Land

Usually, the seller will have a site plan of the land already, but as a prudent person, a buyer must go to the land with his or her own surveyor. The buyer must make the seller point to the actual coordinates of the land for the surveyor to take the same and generate a new site plan.

The site plan is the main document used in conducting legal due diligence. Relying on the seller’s site plan could indicate a potential discrepancy in the land’s records due to errors in surveying, outdated information, or even fraudulent activity.

6. Conduct Official Searches

It is prudent to conduct searches at some government agencies which have records pertaining to land transactions and ownership. These are:

I. The Lands Commission

The Lands Commission and its regional offices have records of land and deed registrations. Depending on the location of the land, for instance, Accra is a land title registration zone, so one can conduct a search here using the current consolidated search system of the various divisions of the Lands Commission.

Previously, one would have been required to do individual searches at the various divisions, but today, whether it is public land, family land, or stool land, one wouldn’t have to search individually.

II. Town and Country Planning

Town and Country Planning Offices are in all metropolitan, municipal, and District Assemblies where the lands are zoned for specific purposes. It is, therefore, important to conduct a search to verify the zoning purposes for the land one intends to purchase. There have been situations where the land intended for purchase was marked for a road, a market, or for electrification purposes yet sold for residential use.

III. Collateral Registry of the Bank of Ghana

The Collateral Registry at the Bank of Ghana has records of mortgages and discharges of the same. A mortgage is an agreement between a property owner and a lender, mostly a bank, which lends money at interest in exchange for taking title of the property owner’s property with the condition that the lender will take the property if the money borrowed is not repaid with interest within a certain time frame.

It is important to know whether the property one intends to purchase is mortgaged and when it will be discharged.

IV. Litigation Search at the Court

There are two main reasons a vendor would want to sell his property. Either he urgently needs money to cater to some pressing issues, or there is litigation on the land, which only came to his knowledge after making the purchase.

Prospective landowners often overlook the need to conduct a litigation search at the courts with jurisdiction where the land they intend to purchase is located. The search will enable the prospective buyer to ascertain if there is any pending litigation involving the person or entity that purports to be the owner of the said land, which is the subject matter of the sale.

For instance, if the land is situated at Achimota, it will be prudent to conduct the litigation search at the Accra and Tema Courts. The value of the land will inform which of the hierarchy of the courts to conduct the search since each of the courts has its monetary jurisdiction, albeit High courts in Ghana have unfettered monetary jurisdiction when it comes to instituting fresh land cases.

It is also important to extend the litigation search to the appellate courts (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) because most land cases in Ghana travel the full haul and hardly get their final determination at the trial courts. Cases abound where a search at the Lands Commission will reveal that a particular family, stool, or entity is the rightful owner of a parcel of land, only for the same to be overturned on appeal.

From the foregoing, you will realize that relying only on a search conducted at the Lands Commission can mislead you into thinking that the land seller is the owner of the said land without indicating that there is pending litigation on the same land.

7. Do a Sale and Purchase Agreement

This is not the indenture or title deed. This agreement affords the buyer time to do further due diligence. It is a binding agreement between the purchaser and the vendor, and neither of them can withdraw without being liable to the other for breach of contract. The agreement will state that the seller will sell the land to the buyer,r and the buyer will buy the land from the seller.

The seller cannot sell the land to any other person apart from the buyer. The agreement will indicate the timelines to do specific acts such as the payment of the full purchase price by the buyer, drafting of the indenture or title deeds by the seller, and giving the buyer vacant possession of the said land. At the time of signing this agreement, the buyer usually pays a deposit of a percentage of the purchase price. If he fails to complete the purchase, the seller may be able to keep this deposit.

8. Completion

After the buyer has fully paid the purchase price, the seller’s lawyer prepares the title deeds or conveyance instrument (conveyance, lease, sublease, assignment, etc.) and properly executes the same. It should be witnessed by at least one person. Each party takes a copy of the executed instrument, and the sale and purchase agreement expires on the date of completion.

9. Post Completion

The buyer’s lawyer will ensure that the oath of proof and certificate of proof attached to the conveyance instrument are executed and stamped at the High Court by the Registrar of Lands. Afterwards, the conveyance instrument is sent to the Lands Commission, where the stamp duty will be assessed for payment. This is a requirement for registration.

Conclusion

The complex and technical nature of land transactions in Ghana requires that a lawyer’s assistance is sought to avert any future loss of the property in litigation.

play videoGhanaian football legend, Philip Opoku Sampene

Ghanaian football legend, Philip Opoku Sampene, detailed the reaction he received from English football icon Paul Gascoigne when he discovered that he was a Ghanaian football great.

Following his retirement, Opoku Sampene moved to the United Kingdom, where he now serves as a security officer at the stadium of Queens Park Rangers.

In the course of his duties as a security officer, Sampene crossed paths with Paul Gascoigne, who is widely known as Gaza.

Speaking in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah, Sampene stated that Gaza was happy to find out that he is an ex-footballer and questioned why he was hustling in the UK when he could have been a coach in Ghana.

Sampene defended his decision to stay in the UK, stating that his life would have taken a downward turn if he stayed in Ghana.

“I met Paul Gascoigne, and he was surprised after seeing my profile. Gaza asked why someone like me should be living abroad instead of coaching in Ghana. I told him if I had not left Ghana, things would have been difficult for me.

“He is the one I usually see. Occasionally, we have conversations when we meet. We stay in the same area. When he got to know me, he was shocked and asked why I was living here instead of coaching in Ghana,” he said.

Opoku Sampene disclosed his eagerness to coach in Ghana, revealing that he has undertaken some courses in the UK.

“Given the opportunity, I’d love to coach in Ghana. I did some courses and have some certificates but could not obtain the licenses,” he said.

Sampene featured for Asante Kotoko, Okwahu United, Bofoakwa Tano, Africa Sports of Ivory Coast, AA Gent of Belgium, and Queens Park Rangers, among others.

EK

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, in collaboration with U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and the U.S. Embassy, Accra hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Jan. 22, 2025, to commemorate the construction of a new classroom facility at the Galtose district assembly school in Nutekpor, South Tongu Region, Ghana.

This project was constructed by both U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine engineers, and highlights the U.S. commitment to fostering stability by supporting local communities through its security cooperation and humanitarian and civic assistance efforts.

Building upon the success of the first schoolhouse completed in the South Tongu Region, Ghana in 2023, this new facility represents a significant milestone in building a durable relationship in this rural, but important, maritime region along the lower Volta river while enhancing educational opportunities for rural youth. The construction of these two facilities by NMCB 1 , deployed under 22nd Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Eighth Engineer Support Battalion (8th ESB) provided real-world training that cannot be simulated in homeport. The new classrooms significantly reduce the student-to-teacher ratio and create a much safer, modern learning environment for the children of this underserved region.

“While the Seabees are leaving Ghana today, it is important to note that this is not a final goodbye,” said Lt. j.g. Joseph G. Beasley, Officer in Charge of Detachment Ghana. “We leave with the knowledge that our work here has strengthened the bond between the United States and Ghana. There are intentions for future engineering projects in Ghana, and when the time comes, we look forward to returning and continuing our partnership. The relationships we have built here, with the people of Ghana and the Ghana Navy, will remain a source of pride and inspiration for us.”

Beasley emphasized that the Seabees’ mission goes beyond building physical structures.

“Through projects like these, we aim not only to enhance infrastructure but also to build bridges of friendship and understanding between our nations,” added Beasley. “These schools are a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a shared goal.”

These projects were part of a broader U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) rotational team of engineers deployed to Ghana from 2022 to 2025 to assist with the Ghana Navy’s development of a new special boat squadron on the Ghana Navy Training Command (NAVTRAC) base. In addition to building new facilities and making numerous enhancements on the NAVTRAC base, the team of U.S. Naval engineers helped bolster the local community through the AFRICOM humanitarian civic action (HCA) program. The HCA program allows for conducting operations that supports the mutual security interests of the U.S and host nation, while increasing the operational readiness skills of the service members who participate in the activities.

“The U.S. Navy is extremely proud to have contributed here in the South Tongu region, even if only in very small ways,” said Capt. Christopher Kim, Force Engineer, U.S. Naval Forces Africa. “The time our engineers have spent here in Ghana has provided us with a truly incredible return on investment”

Kim said that this project has forged veterans of the operational environment by enhancing construction skills, improving interoperability between Seabees and Marines, testing the logistics network in the Gulf of Guinea, and working though challenging environmental conditions.

“The real benefit of our time here in Ghana is the honest and meaningful relationships our Sailors and Marines have built, shoulder to shoulder, with the proud people of Ghana,” said Kim. “This has been priceless, and we cannot thank you enough for the time here in your wonderful country.”

The ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, educators, and community members, who expressed their gratitude for the enduring impact of these projects. Among those in attendance was Mr. Rolf Olson, guest of honor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana.

“This handover is a symbol of our relationship that goes back many years,” said Olson. “We take immense pride in this long standing partnership with Ghana and this donation symbolizes our joint efforts to ensure Ghana’s Navy and Ghana’s citizens have the necessary resources to continue to grow and prosper.”

Olson spoke in front of the new three-unit classroom facility and emphasized the U.S. commitment to partnership.

“As a country and as a diplomatic mission, the U.S. is committed to being a reliable partner that shows up when necessary,” said Olson. “The U.S. is Ghana’s largest development partner and has been supporting Ghanaian education for more than 50 years. Therefore, it is a tremendous honor to hand over this educational facility to the Nutekpor community, a gesture which symbolizes our shared commitment to building a stronger foundation for the future of our youth.”

The schools are scheduled to be fully operational for students in February 2025.

NMCB 1 and 8th ESB’s efforts in Nutekpor are a testament to the Navy’s enduring commitment to fostering positive relationships and delivering meaningful change across the globe.

22nd NCR commands naval construction forces for Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces Europe-Africa/Task Force 68 across the 6th Fleet area of operations to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests.

CTF 68 is a part of the U.S. 6th Fleet and commands all Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces bridge the gap from sea to shore and provides expeditionary capabilities in remote, complex and austere environments.

Businesses and individuals in Ghana using Amazon Web Services (AWS) will face increased costs as the cloud service provider begins charging Value Added Tax (VAT) and other levies on its services starting March 1, 2025.

In an official communication, AWS announced that it will apply a 15% VAT on all sales of its services to customers in Ghana. Additionally, a 6% levy will be charged, covering the National Health Insurance Levy, Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy, and the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy.

AWS is the world’s leading cloud computing platform, providing businesses, governments, and individuals with essential computing power, storage, and networking services.

With this new tax implementation, Ghanaian businesses relying on AWS for digital infrastructure will experience higher operational costs.

The move aligns with Ghana’s tax regulations, ensuring compliance with local tax laws. However, it could impact companies that depend on AWS for cloud-based operations, as they will now need to factor in the additional expenses.

Starting March 1, 2025, AWS will issue VAT invoices to customers in Ghana. Businesses and individuals are advised to update their AWS accounts with their Tax Registration Number (TRN) before the deadline to facilitate VAT deductions.

AWS has urged customers to notify their finance and accounting teams to adjust for the tax implications and ensure compliance with the new charges.

Don’t rush bank license reinstatement – Prof. Peter Quartey warns BoG amid local ownership concerns

Ghana’s local currency, the cedi, has recorded marginal gains against major trading currencies, particularly the US dollar, at some forex bureaus.

In its daily update, the Central Bank noted that the cedi is trading at a buying price of GH¢15.54 and a selling price of GH¢15.55 to a dollar.

The British pound is being bought at GH¢19.54 and sold at GH¢19.57, while the euro trades at a buying price of GH¢16.18 and a selling price of GH¢16.19.

Checks by GhanaWeb Business on February 20, 2025, at 8:00 AM indicate that the cedi is trading at GH¢15.90 to the dollar, while the pound is trading at GH¢19.90 at some major forex bureaus across the country.

Additionally, the euro is trading at GH¢16.80 on the retail market.

To curb the depreciation of the cedi, the Bank of Ghana sold over $200 million in the last quarter of 2024.

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

Click here to follow the GhanaWeb Business WhatsApp channel