SMEs: Ghana cuts electricity tariff for non-residential business operators
From January this year, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has flagged off the commencement of electricity tariff reduction for Non-residential power users to encourage growth in businesses.
According to him, “from this year, 2018, small businesses and enterprises would enjoy an average reduction of 14 per cent in utility tariffs, with barbers getting a cut of 18 per cent, hairdressers and beauticians, 15.7 per cent and some 9.8 per cent cut for tailors and fashion designers”.
Speaking at the opening of the three-day Eighth edition of the Annual Salon Academy of the National Association of Beauticians and Hairdresser of Ghana (NABH) held at the Mensah Sarbah Hall, University of Ghana, Legon, near Accra, President Akufo-Addo noted that the new tariff regime is designed to support Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana and it is in line with ongoing economic diversification and job creation and support.
On the 2018 Business Growth Scheme with theme; ‘Creating the Best Learning Environment in All Training Centres’, President Akufo-Addo encouraged every business owner to avail the provided opportunity to grow his business and contribute to the economy of Ghana.
The Salon Academy, which drew participation from all over the country and from West African countries of Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, is aimed at enhancing and improving the skills of beauticians and hairdressers.
The President told the hairdressers and beauticians that government was determined to make their businesses grow, and that, with the normalisation of the power situation in the country, it (government) would ensure businesses flourish and bring the desired growth Ghana deserves.
According to him, “With small business, like that of the hairdressers paying an average electricity bill of GH¢562 monthly last year, the reduction announced by the President is expected to cut their bills to GH¢473 a month”.
“This means GH¢88 has been taken from the electricity tariff that you pay. We want to encourage private business, and make business stand on its feet,” President Akufo-Addo added.
