DVLA out with ‘luxury vehicle license’ sticker in Jan 2019

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is set to release specialised stickers for the Luxury Vehicle Levy (LVL) in January 2019.

A Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide who made this known at a press briefing in Accra on Sunday December 16, 2018 said the move was to enable an easy identification of vehicles that have complied with the law.

Following the passage of the law imposing an annual tax on vehicles with high capacity engines dubbed "Luxury Vehicle Levy," which started August 1, 2018, the DVLA has been collecting a levy ranging from GHȻ1,000 to GHȻ2,000 on behalf of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

No. Engine Capacity (CC) Levy (GH¢)
1. 2950cc - 3549cc GH¢1,000
2. 3550cc - 4049cc GH¢1,500
3. 3 Above 4049cc GH¢2,000

This followed parliament’s approval of the tax proposed by the Finance Minister when he delivered the 2018 mid-year review budget.

The levy is to be paid on the registration of vehicles and subsequently on or before the annual renewal of the roadworthy certificate of such vehicles, with engine capacities listed above."

The tax also affects vehicles of the listed capacities existing prior to the passage of the law.

At the press briefing Sunday afternoon, Mr Pius Hadzide said DVLA will begin issuing the specialised stickers for the Luxury Vehicle Levy (LVL) beginning January 2019 for easy identification of vehicles that have complied.

“As you may be aware the implementation of the LVL law is already in full force after Parliament passed the bill this year to impose an annual levy on vehicles with high engine capacities.”

"Let me indicate that it is an offence for anybody to change or replace the engine in an attempt to outwit DVLA and officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)," he added.

Description of LVL Stickers

The LVL stickers are of the same shape and size like the normal roadworthy stickers except that they are printed in three different colours with additional printed "LVL," information according to the three designations LVL1, LVL2, and LVL3 which are to be issued according to the category of vehicles that pay the levy, the Deputy Minister said.

Exemption from Levy

He explained the following motor vehicles are exempt from the Levy:

(a) Tractors;

(b) Ambulances;

(c) Commercial vehicles that have the capacity to transport more than ten persons;

(d) Commercial vehicles for the transport of goods; and

(e) Other motor vehicles that the Minister may by legislative instrument exempt.

Below is a copy of the full address by the Deputy Minister

Minister’s Press Briefings
Addressed by Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide (Deputy Minister)

Opening Remarks

Good afternoon and thank you once again for attending our Sunday briefing.
This afternoon there are three (3) briefs we have for you.

1. Galamsey fight continues even as Validated legal miners resume Monday 17th December, 2018.

2. More relief to Ghanaians as inflation and fuel prices continue to drop.

3. DVLA set to release specialised stickers for the Luxury Vehicle Levy in January 2019.

Galamsey fight continues...Only validated legal miners can resume Monday 17th December, 2018.

The fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey remains in full force even as government rolls out a comprehensive policy framework for mining which kicks off on Monday 17th December 2018.

Last Friday, The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) announced the next phase of the fight against illegal and irresponsible mining which was commissioned under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo in March 2017. The focus was to sanitise, regularise and reform the small-scale mining sector.

It is a comprehensive framework which continues to demonstrate the unprecedented levels of Political will, demonstrated by any administration in fighting this national canker.

The new framework allows the about 900 validated miners to resume work from Monday under a strict supervision and monitoring regime. This is to ensure that even for them resort is not made to irresponsible or even illegal mining methods. Mining by these validated concessionaires is to conform to the boundaries and methods as approved.

A first set of former Galamsey operators numbering about 3000 will also now be grouped under the community mining program and given proper concessions also to mine under similar regulations. All other former Galamseyers who desire to mine again will have to apply, be trained and allocated a proper concession to mine within in accordance with the Policy framework.

The list of compliant miners will be published in the electronic and print media this week of 17th-23rd December, 2018. This information will also be available on the notice boards of the municipal and district assemblies.

Having provided enough avenues for legal and responsible mining permit me to quote the Chairman of the IMCIM Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng who expressed what Government does not expect moving forward;

“There should, therefore, be no logical reason why any person in Ghana should engage in illegal mining”.

Any person caught in illegal and irresponsible mining will be dealt with in accordance with law. Illegal small scale mining (galamsey) remains illegal. And will not be countenanced. Persons who want to mine are entreated to follow the new protocols and avoid a conflict with the law.

Government will continue to work with all stakeholders and urges citizens to support with the continued war against galamsey or illegal mining. We also urge our colleagues in the media to take time to explain the details and nuances in the new policy framework to the good people of Ghana in order to avoid any confusion and infractions.

More relief to Ghanaians as inflation and fuel prices continue to drop.

The Akufo-Addo administration continues with efforts to further reduce the hardships of Ghanaians inherited upon assumption of power. Two major recent interventions which we expect will further reduce the legacy burden on Ghanaians are the further drop inflation to 9.3% and an expected further reduction in fuel prices this week.

Inflation has seen a continued fall since January 2017. It has dropped from 15.4% in Dec 2016 and is now at a 6 year low of 9.3%.

What this means is that if in Dec 2016 the prices of goods and services was increasing at 15.4 % (Annual Progress Report, 2016), now through the policies of the administration, the rate of price increases has slowed down to 9.3% enabling Ghanaians to retain more money in their pockets and reduce their hardship.

Specifically, measures such as fiscal consolidation, monetary policy tightening, relative exchange rate stability for most part of 2017 as well as easing inflationary pressures were implemented to deal with the higher rate of inflation the government inherited. These measures yielded results by reducing the headline inflation from 15.4% in December, 2016 to 11.8% in December, 2017. ( Mid-Year Budget Review, 2018) Thus, 3.6% reduction.

These prudent measures were again steadily implemented in 2018 fiscal year and this accelerated the disinflationary trend experienced in 2017. From headline inflation of 11.8% in December, 2017 the trend was further dragged down within the first five months of 2018 to 9.8% (May, 2018). Owing to the competence of the economic managers, in October 2018, inflation rate further declined to 9.5%.

Although there were slight increases in the ensuing months after May, the managers were able to direct it back on track.

The most recent decline is the further reduction in November, 2018, from a rate of 9.5% in October 2018 to 9.3% in November the same year. This is the lowest rate of inflation recorded since 2013.The general price level has therefore comparatively seen more stability in the last 2 years. In other words, the rate at which the purchasing power of consumers is reduced due to inflation is has been kept under control.

Fuel prices which have also been experiencing an uptick over a two month period have also been on a gradual decline in recent weeks. Indeed government expects a further drop in fuel prices by an average 5.8% reduction for petrol, 4.8% reduction for Diesel and 2.46% reduction for LPG. This is occasioned by the marginal strength of the cedi and prices around the world.

These reductions come on the back of various other interventions that have been designed to bring relief to the good people of Ghana including;

- Reduction in some 14 tax handles in 2017
- Reduction in electricity tariffs
- Reduction in taxes on petroleum products from 40 to 26%
- Taking up of senior high school fees by government

The administration is optimistic that the drop in inflation and fuel will therefore add another layer to the work being done in these first 24 months to ease the legacy burden on Ghanaians.

DVLA set to release specialised stickers for the Luxury Vehicle Levy in January 2019.

The Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority will begin issuing specialised stickers for the Luxury Vehicle Levy (LVL) beginning January 2019.

As you may be aware the implementation of the LVL law is already in full force after Parliament passed the bill this year to impose an annual levy on vehicles with high engine capacities.

Vehicles with engine capacity of two thousand, nine hundred and fifty (2950) Cubic Centimeters and more are required to pay respective levies.

Imposition of Levy
No. ENGINE CAPACITY (CC) Levy (GH¢)
1 2950cc - 3549cc GH¢1,000
2 3550cc - 4049cc GH¢1,500
3 Above 4049cc GH¢2,000

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is authorized by the Law to collect the levy on behalf of Government.

Description of LVL Stickers.

The LVL stickers are of the same shape and size like the normal roadworthy stickers except that they are printed in three different colours with additional printed "LVL," information according to the three designations LVL1, LVL2, and LVL3 which are to be issued according to the category of vehicles that pay the levy.

Exemption from Levy.

The following motor vehicles are exempt from the Levy:
(a) Tractors;
(b) Ambulances;
(c) Commercial vehicles that have the capacity to transport more than ten persons;
(d) Commercial vehicles for the transport of goods; and
(e) Other motor vehicles that the Minister may by legislative instrument exempt.

Let me indicate that it is an offence for anybody to change or replace the engine in an attempt to outwit DVLA and officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
I thank you all.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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