The Government of Ghana has approved a strategic exemption for electricity bills for selected state institutions, following a Cabinet decision led by President John Dramani Mahama. This initiative, announced by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, aims to ensure uninterrupted service delivery in critical sectors such as security, health, and education. According to the Minister, the exemptions apply strictly to core operational facilities within these ministries and do not extend to auxiliary or non-essential units. The policy takes immediate effect, and the Ministry of Finance will cover the electricity costs through budgetary allocations.
Institutions covered under the exemption include:
- Office of the President
- Ministry of Defence – covering military intelligence, national defence communications, and emergency systems only.
- Ministry of the Interior – limited to police and emergency response units.
- Ministry of Health – including hospitals, theatres, blood banks, labs, and wards (excluding staff housing and leisure spaces).
- Ministry of Education – covering classrooms, lecture halls, universities, labs, and research facilities (excluding dormitories and recreational areas).
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) have been instructed to enhance their revenue collection efforts from non-exempt institutions. They are also authorized to disconnect power to entities that fail to meet their payment obligations. Minister Jinapor emphasized that this measure aims to balance the necessity of uninterrupted public services with fiscal responsibility. “This exemption ensures that essential services in sectors crucial to national security, health, and education continue without interruption, while also promoting accountability among non-exempt users,” he stated.
By: Evans Effah