In a nationwide broadcast on 26 July 2020 (update #14), Ghana's President addressed the nation on the progress being made in the fight against COVID-19 and the additional measures being taken by the Government to alleviate the hardships occasioned by the pandemic.

The President announced that the Government had extended the provision of free electricity supply to lifeline tariff customers until the end of the year and reduced the Communication Service Tax from 9% to 5%, effective September 2020.

Additionally, the President indicated that the following plans or measures would be implemented:

1. A National Unemployment Insurance Scheme to provide temporary income support to workers who have lost their jobs
2. Increase of the funding for the COVID-19 Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme by GHS150 million
3. Establishment of a Guarantee Scheme of GHS2 billion to enable businesses access credit at more affordable rates to survive the pandemic and retain jobs

For additional information with respect to this alert, please contact the following:

Contacts

Ernst & Young Advisory Services Limited

• Robin McCone                  robin.mccone@gh.ey.com
• Isaac Sarpong                  isaac.sarpong@gh.ey.com

Ernst & Young Société d'Avocats, Pan African Tax — Transfer Pricing Desk, Paris

• Bruno Messerschmitt      bruno.messerschmitt@ey-avocats.com
• Alexis Popov                      alexis.popov@ey-avocats.com

Ernst & Young LLP (United Kingdom), Pan African Tax Desk, London

• Rendani Neluvhalani        rendani.mabel.neluvhalani@uk.ey.com
• Byron Thomas                   bthomas4@uk.ey.com         

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Pan African Tax Desk, New York

• Brigitte Keirby-Smith        brigitte.f.keirby-smith1@ey.com
• Dele Olagun-Samuel        dele.olaogun@ey.com