Africa Business News

Ghana's government has suspended plans to implement a new 15% tax on power, following a public uproar that it will worsen the cost-of-living crisis. The value-added tax was to be levied on domestic consumers of electricity. The government introduced it to boost its revenue after pressure from the International Monetary Fund however labour unions opposed the tax and announced nationwide protests against it next week. The finance ministry directed the two main power distributors - the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) - to put the new levy on hold. Authorities say the tax has been put on hold until talks are held to resolve the dispute.

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Ghana's government has suspended plans to implement a new 15% tax on power, following a public uproar that it will worsen the cost-of-living crisis. The value-added tax was to be levied on domestic consumers of electricity. The government introduced it to boost its revenue after pressure from the International Monetary Fund however labour unions opposed the tax and announced nationwide protests against it next week. The finance ministry directed the two main power distributors - the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) - to put the new levy on hold. Authorities say the tax has been put on hold until talks are held to resolve the dispute.

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Ghana's opposition presidential candidate John Mahama has opposed a proposal for the general elections to be brought forward to November from December this year. The Electoral Commission says the proposal, initially put forward by the political parties, aimed to allow sufficient time for the commission to effectively manage its operations, particularly in the event of a run-off. Mr Mahama, the National Democratic Congress party candidate, however, says the proposed date change for the general elections was not feasible. The former president urged the commission to get its house together to ensure credible polls. The commission is also considering designating all election days as national holidays to help boost turnout.

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Ghana's opposition presidential candidate John Mahama has opposed a proposal for the general elections to be brought forward to November from December this year. The Electoral Commission says the proposal, initially put forward by the political parties, aimed to allow sufficient time for the commission to effectively manage its operations, particularly in the event of a run-off. Mr Mahama, the National Democratic Congress party candidate, however, says the proposed date change for the general elections was not feasible. The former president urged the commission to get its house together to ensure credible polls. The commission is also considering designating all election days as national holidays to help boost turnout.

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South Africa's Electricity Minister Kgosientsh Ramokgopa has ruled out claims that sabotage is behind the country's worsening power cuts. South Africa has been experiencing its most extreme power outages since November, prompting widespread outrage on social media. The secretary general of the ruling ANC party Fikile Mbalula alleged that the intensified power cuts were clear sabotage and called for strong extra security measures. Mr Ramokgopa rejected the claims saying that the extreme power outages had been caused by leaking boiler tubes, which are used in the generation of electricity in power plants. The electricity minister says that the leakages had caused the simultaneous failure of nine major power units.

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South Africa's Electricity Minister Kgosientsh Ramokgopa has ruled out claims that sabotage is behind the country's worsening power cuts. South Africa has been experiencing its most extreme power outages since November, prompting widespread outrage on social media. The secretary general of the ruling ANC party Fikile Mbalula alleged that the intensified power cuts were clear sabotage and called for strong extra security measures. Mr Ramokgopa rejected the claims saying that the extreme power outages had been caused by leaking boiler tubes, which are used in the generation of electricity in power plants. The electricity minister says that the leakages had caused the simultaneous failure of nine major power units.

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The International Monetary Fund says stalled per-capita growth, poverty and high food insecurity have exacerbated the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria. The global lender says low revenue collection has hampered the provision of services and public investment. It noted that headline inflation reached 27 per cent year-on-year in October (food inflation 32 per cent), reflecting the effects of fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate depreciation, and poor agricultural production in the country. It added that Nigeria faces a difficult external environment and wide-ranging domestic challenges. External financing (market and official) is scarce, and global food prices have surged, reflecting the repercussions of conflict and geo-economic fragmentation.

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The International Monetary Fund says stalled per-capita growth, poverty and high food insecurity have exacerbated the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria. The global lender says low revenue collection has hampered the provision of services and public investment. It noted that headline inflation reached 27 per cent year-on-year in October (food inflation 32 per cent), reflecting the effects of fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate depreciation, and poor agricultural production in the country. It added that Nigeria faces a difficult external environment and wide-ranging domestic challenges. External financing (market and official) is scarce, and global food prices have surged, reflecting the repercussions of conflict and geo-economic fragmentation.

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Hungarian President Katalin Novak announced her resignation after coming under mounting pressure to pardon a man convicted as an accomplice for helping cover up a sex abuse case in a children’s home. She says she decided to grant a pardon last April, believing that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of children whom he had overseen. At least 1,000 people protested in the country’s capital on Friday, demanding her resignation. Hungarian opposition parties had also demanded she leave office. Novak decided to pardon some two dozen people in April 2023, in advance of a visit by Pope Francis, among them the deputy director of a children’s home who helped the former director of the home hide his crimes. Novak says she would never pardon a paedophile, including in this case. She said the reason behind her decision was not public and all pardons were divisive by their nature.

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Hungarian President Katalin Novak announced her resignation after coming under mounting pressure to pardon a man convicted as an accomplice for helping cover up a sex abuse case in a children’s home. She says she decided to grant a pardon last April, believing that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of children whom he had overseen. At least 1,000 people protested in the country’s capital on Friday, demanding her resignation. Hungarian opposition parties had also demanded she leave office. Novak decided to pardon some two dozen people in April 2023, in advance of a visit by Pope Francis, among them the deputy director of a children’s home who helped the former director of the home hide his crimes. Novak says she would never pardon a paedophile, including in this case. She said the reason behind her decision was not public and all pardons were divisive by their nature.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/africa-business-news--4166630/support.