Parliament approves €1,594,000 tax waiver for installation of E-Learning Laboratories

Parliament has approved a tax waiver equivalent to €1,517,040.00 in Ghana Cedis for the supply and installation of integrated e-learning laboratories in senior high schools nationwide.

The waiver request, presented to the House by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, was made in accordance with Article 174 (2) of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.

On Friday, June 28, 2024, Rt. Hon. Speaker referred the waiver request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.

The Committee subsequently met with key stakeholders, including the Minister for Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum; the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare; the Deputy Minister for Education, Professor Kingsley Nyarko; and officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

During the deliberations, the Committee referenced several documents, including the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Public Financial Management Act, the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, and the Commercial Contract for €11,594,000.00 between the Government of Ghana and Televic Group N.V. for the supply and installation of integrated e-learning laboratories in senior high schools (TELEVIC Phase II).

Background

The Government of Ghana is currently implementing the Integrated E-Learning Laboratories Project in senior high schools nationwide to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. The project aims to support, enhance, and optimize the delivery of education and is being executed in phases.

Phase I of the project, which provided fully equipped and integrated ICT laboratories to 240 senior high schools and two resource centers, has been successfully completed. Due to the positive outcomes of Phase I, the government is now moving forward with Phase II, which will equip ICT laboratories in 175 senior high schools nationwide.

In line with this, the government sourced financing and, at its twenty-second sitting of the third meeting on November 6, 2020, Parliament approved a Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and KBC Bank NV of Belgium for €3,866,425.20, including a Credendo ECA insurance premium of €272,425.20, to finance the supply and installation of the e-learning laboratories.

Additionally, the government entered into a Commercial Contract Agreement with Televic Group N.V. for €11,594,000.00 to execute Phase II of the project.

Clause 14.1 of the General Conditions of the Contract Agreement mandates the State to acquire tax exemption for the project.

Without the waiver, any taxes and duties paid by the contractor would need to be reimbursed by the employer.

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