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General News of Monday, 10 October 2011

Source: Dailypost

Tax Free Cars for Foreign Service officers

MILLS DOES IT AGAIN!

The Mills Administration has taken yet another unprecedented step to end the frustrations of Ghanaian international civil servants and Foreign Service officers after cabinet approved the waiver of import duty on vehicles for foreign officers and Ghanaian international civil servants!

The issue has been a matter of considerable interest to Ghanaian international civil servants as well as Foreign Service officers for a very long time. In the case of the UN workers, they have been agitating for years for the waiver especially because a percentage of their salaries go directly to the government of Ghana.

As regards the Foreign Service officers, for years, they have fought for the waiver but to no avail. However, though barely three years in government, the Atta Mills Administration has brought relief to the Foreign Service officers as well as Ghanaian international civil servants. In order for the system not to be abused, the waiver is limited to one vehicle at any given time while the engine capacity cannot exceed 3, 0000 CC.

Furthermore, the waiver will be enjoyed once in four years (which is the average period a Foreign Service officer serves). Also, the vehicle can be sold only after three years. This means the ownership cannot change until after three years from the date of registration of the vehicle.

Cabinet’s decision is in line with international best practices and is most certainly going to be a source of great joy to the Foreign Service officers as well as Ghanaians international civil servants.