COVID-19: Accountant General implements tax reliefs for health workers and COVID-19 Fund pledges 

The Controller and Accountant-General has implemented the three months tax relief granted to all health workers as directed by the President in his recent address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic.

President Akufo-Addo, while addressing the nation on April 5, 2020, on measures taken by the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease, announced a number of packages for health professionals at the forefront of the fight.

Among the measures are tax reliefs for the months of April, May and June, an insurance package for health personnel and allied professionals at the forefront of the fight. In addition, those considered as frontline health workers, are to receive an additional allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salary for three months.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department in a statement signed by the Acting Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, indicated that the tax reliefs will accordingly reflect in the salaries of health workers for April, May and June 2020.

Meanwhile, on the 50 per cent basic salary as allowance for frontline workers, the Department said it has engaged the Ministry of Health on the modalities for effecting the payment since there’s no clarity on who a frontline worker is.

“Three (3) months tax relief for all health workers has been effected. This will reflect in each of the three months’ (April, May and June 2020) Payroll.

“On the 50% of basic salary as allowance for frontline health workers for the next three months, the Department has engaged the Ministry of Health on the modalities for effecting the payment,” the statement announced.

Pledges

The Department further revealed that it has also implemented pledges by the President and the Vice-President to donate their three months salaries to the National COVID-19 Fund established by the government.

Other pledges by the Chief of Staff, all Ministers of State, and other government appointees who also pledged 50% of their three months salaries to the Fund have also been implemented, the statement noted.

“The Controller and Accountant-General wishes to inform the general public that these directives have been implemented and the results will reflect after April 2020 Payroll Run,” it stated.

The Department further assured all Pensioners and Government workers that, despite the partial lockdown, “adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that pensions and salaries for the month of April 2020 are paid as scheduled.”

COVID-19 pandemic

There are more than 2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in over 200 countries, with over 130,000 deaths.

So far, Ghana has recorded 641 cases with 8 deaths and 83 recoveries.