Government approves exemption of electricity bills for selected institutions

The government has approved the exemption of electricity bills for five state institutions following a Cabinet decision chaired by President John Dramani Mahama.

These government institutions are the Office of the President, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

The move is aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.

This development was announced in an official letter from the Ministry of Energy to the Acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Under the arrangement, the Ministry of Finance will assume full responsibility for the electricity bills of the exempted institutions, with payments to be made from portions of their allocated goods and services budget.

However, the Energy Ministry clarified that the exemption applies strictly to specified agencies or services under the listed ministries, rather than a blanket waiver for all departments.

“This measure aims to alleviate the financial burden on these strategic institutions and ensure that these vital services remain uninterrupted,” the Ministry of Energy stated.

The new directive comes amid rising utility costs and increasing pressure on public institutions to manage operational expenses.

By absorbing electricity costs for critical services, the government hopes to protect the delivery of health care, education, national security, and other essential functions from potential service disruptions.

Meanwhile, authorities say this new initiative will be closely monitored to ensure transparency and efficiency in its implementation.