Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697756156352.pdf (Ghana)
African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 AFRICAN UNION IMPORT LEVY BILL, 2017 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1.

Object 2.

Imposition of Levy on eligible imports 3.

Authority to collect Levy 4.

Bank account for Levy collected 5.

Transfer of moneys to the African Union 6.

Utilisation of surplus 7.

Annual report 8.


Interpretation 1 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 A BILL ENTITLED AFRICAN UNION IMPORT LEVY ACT, 2017 AN ACT to impose an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent on the value of eligible goods imported into the country from Non-Member States of the African Union and for related matters.

PASSED by Parliament and assented to by the President: Object 1.
(1) The object of this Act is to impose an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent on the value of eligible goods imported into the country from a country that is not a Member State of the African Union.
(2) The Levy shall be used to (a) provide a reliable and predictable funding for the Conti- nental Peace and Security Fund of the African Union; (b) provide an equitable and predictable source of financing (c) for the African Union; reduce dependency on partner funds for the implementation of the Continental Development and Integration Programmes; and 2 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 (d) relieve national treasuries of pressure with respect to meeting national obligations for payment of assessed contribution to funding the African Union.
Imposition of Levy on eligible imports 2.

(1) There is imposed by this Act, an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent of the value of eligible goods imported into the country, where the goods originated from a country that is not a Member State of the African Union.
(2) For purposes of subsection (1), the under listed goods are not eligible goods: (a) goods originating from a country or territory that is a Member State of the African Union, imported into the country for home consumption or re-export to a Member State of the African Union; (b) goods received as any aid, gift or non-payable grant from (i) a State; or (ii) a legal entity constituted under a public law, that provides charitable works recognised as being part of the common good; (c) goods imported by enterprises before the commencement of this Act; and (d) goods for which an African Union Import Levy has already been paid in a Member State of the African Union prior to their import into this country.
(3) For purposes of subsection (1), “value” means the cost, insurance and freight value at the port of disembarkation for an import arriving by sea, air, post, road or inland waterways.

Authority to collect Levy 3.

The Levy shall be collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority estab- lished under section 1 of the Ghana Revenue Authority Act, 2009 (Act 791).

3 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 Bank account for Levy collected 4.
The Authority shall ensure that moneys collected as Levy are paid into an account opened for that purpose by the Controller and Accountant- General.

Transfer of moneys to the African Union 5.

(1) The Minister shall, on the request of the African Union, authorise the transfer of moneys from the account referred to in section 4 to an account prescribed by the African Union.
(2) The purpose of the transfer is to apply proceeds from the Levy solely for the settlement of the assessed contribution of Ghana to the African Union for the relevant financial year.

(3) Despite subsection (2), a surplus on the account referred to in section 4 shall be utilised as specified in this Act.

(4) The Bank of Ghana shall transfer moneys to the African Union based on instructions from the Minister with respect to the assessed contribution of Ghana for each fiscal year.
Utilisation of surplus 6.

(1) Where there is a surplus on the account referred to in section 4 after a full settlement of the assessed contribution, the Bank of Ghana shall, on the instructions of the Minister, retain the surplus and utilise the surplus as specified in subsection (2).
(2) The Bank of Ghana shall, on the instructions of the Minister, (a) transfer fifty per cent of the surplus to the Consolidated Fund; and (b) retain fifty per cent of the surplus in the account referred to in section 4 for (i) the purpose of making up for any deficit; and (ii) other expenditure including expenditure on economic and political integration and diplomacy related to Ghana’s membership of the African Union.
4 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 (3) The Bank of Ghana shall manage the amount referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) together with any accrued interest and shall make the amount available on the instructions of the Minister.

Annual report 7.

The Minister shall submit an annual report on the account referred to in section 4 to Parliament as part of the annual budget.

Interpretation 8.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “assessed contribution” means the contribution of Ghana to the African Union as determined by the African Union each year; “Authority” means the Ghana Revenue Authority established under section 1 of the Ghana Revenue Authority Act, 2009 (Act 791); “deficit” means where the revenue collected from the Levy is less than the assessed contribution for the year; “Levy” means the African Union Import Levy imposed under section 2; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Finance; and “surplus” means where the revenue collected from the Levy is more than the assessed contribution for the year.
Date of Gazette notification: 11th October, 2017.

5 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 GPCL, ASSEMBLY PRESS, ACCRA.

GPCL/A571/450/09/2017 6 Website: www.ghpublishingcompany.com E-mail: info@ghpublishingcompany.com African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 AFRICAN UNION IMPORT LEVY BILL, 2017 MEMORANDUM The object of the Bill is to impose an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent on imports to finance the activities of the African Union.
Currently, African countries pay their assessed contributions through the national budget.

The African Union takes the view that such an arrangement makes the payment of subscriptions unreliable.

Heads of Government of the African Union subsequently passed a resolution to require Member States to impose a levy on imports to finance the activities of the African Union.

This Bill is in response to the resolution.

The expected revenue is ninety million Ghana Cedis for 2018.
The revenue accrued will be used to finance Ghana’s subscription obligations and other expenditures related to Ghana’s membership of the African Union.

Clause 1 of the Bill provides the object of the Bill.

The object of the Bill is to impose an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent on the value of eligible goods imported into the country from a country that is not a Member State of the African Union.
The Levy is to be used to provide a reliable and predictable funding for the Continental Peace and Security Fund of the African Union; provide an equitable and predictable source of financing for the African Union; reduce dependency on partner funds for the implementation of the Continental Development and Integration Programmes and relieve national treasuries of pressure with respect to meeting national obligations for payment of assessed contribution to funding the African Union.
Clause 2 imposes an African Union Import Levy of zero point two percent of the value of eligible goods imported into the country, where the goods originated from a country that is not a Member State of the African Union.

Clause 3 empowers the Ghana Revenue Authority to collect the Levy.
Clause 4 mandates the Authority to ensure that moneys collected as Levy 7 AFRICAN UNION IMPORT LEVY BILL, 2017 African Union Import Levy Bill, 2017 are paid into an account opened for that purpose by the Controller and Accountant-General.

Clause 5 mandates the Minister, on the request of the African Union Secretariat, to authorise the transfer of moneys from the account mentioned in clause 4 to an account prescribed by the African Union Secretariat.
The purpose of the transfer is to apply proceeds from the Levy solely for the settlement of the assessed contribution of Ghana to the African Union for the relevant financial year.
Clause 6 deals with the utilisation of the surplus and provides that where there is a surplus on the account referred to in section 4 after a full settlement of the assessed contribution, the Bank of Ghana shall, on the instructions of the Minister, retain the surplus and transfer fifty per cent of the surplus to the Consolidated Fund and retain fifty per cent of the surplus in the account referred to in clause 4 for the purpose of making up for any deficit and for other expenditure including expenditure on economic and political integration and diplomacy related to Ghana’s membership of the African Union.
Clause 7 mandates the Minister to submit an annual report on the account referred to in clause 4 to Parliament as part of the annual budget.

Clause 8 is on interpretation.

KEN OFORI-ATTA Minister responsible for Finance Date: 6th October, 2017 ii 8