Presidents will be required to pay taxes on their salaries, allowances and applicable indirect taxes under the government’s proposed constitutional reforms, if the recommendation is approved.
The proposal follows Cabinet’s acceptance of a recommendation by the Constitution Review Committee to remove the tax exemptions enjoyed by the President solely by virtue of holding office.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, disclosed this during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Thursday, July 30, while presenting the government’s position on the Committee’s recommendations.
According to Dr Ayine, the government supports the principle that the President should not be exempt from paying taxes simply because of the office they occupy.
“We have also accepted the principle that the President should not enjoy tax exemptions by virtue of office alone. The President will pay tax on salary and allowances, as well as the applicable indirect taxes on goods and services,” he said.
However, he indicated that the government has rejected the proposal to tax the President’s retirement benefits.
“The Government has not, however, accepted the proposal to tax the President’s retirement gratuity and pension, and the details of the President’s tax liability will be worked out in the tax laws, where such details belong,” Dr Ayine added.
The proposed measure forms part of the government’s position paper on the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee, which seeks to strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance through a series of constitutional and legislative reforms.
Some of the proposed constitutional amendments will require approval through a national referendum before they can take effect.
