Duty on generators stays put mark II

For the second time in as many days, another government Minister has affirmed that the introduction of an import duty on generators for domestic and light industrial use stays put.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy, Mr. Fred Ohene Kena, unlike his colleague at the Trade Ministry who assigned the duty to a clause in the budget, has said the duty imposed on light capacity generators is to stop old, dilapidated and noisy generators floodfing the market.

He said apart from such machines being fire hazards, the Customs Service would have to generate revenue for the country making it necessary for them to tax items that are in demand.

It would be recalled that importers were surprised last week when they were ordered to pay, without notice, a five- percent import levy on light capacity generators, with consumers arguing that in the light of the current energy shortfall there should be a waiver.