By: Belinda Nketia
Former Finance Minister and current Government Advisor on the Economy, Seth Terkper, is set to launch his latest book, “VAT (Value Added Tax) in Africa: The Ghana Experience”, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 3:30 PM at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra.
The book examines Ghana’s complex history with VAT, tracing its initial suspension amid political resistance, its eventual success, and subsequent policy distortions, including the removal of key components like the GETFund and National Health Insurance levies. Drawing on decades of public service and a decade-long tenure with the IMF, Seth Terkper offers practical insights for African policymakers, tax professionals, and the general public.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, June 24, the former Finance Minister explained his motivation: “The rest of the world can learn from Ghana. Mistakes we made are being repeated across Africa. This book documents those lessons. I also wrote it because I teach VAT at institutions including the University of Ghana Business School and GIMPA.”
Her Excellency the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, will be the Special Guest of Honour at the launch. Attendees will include representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, AGI, academia, accounting firms, and other trade associations. The event is open to the general public at no cost.
Terkper also noted that distribution arrangements are underway with EPP Books, university bookshops, professional retailers, and even supermarkets, should demand rise.
Seth Terkper is a chartered accountant and seasoned public finance expert. He served as Ghana’s Minister of Finance from 2013 to 2017 and has held multiple roles at the Ministry of Finance, including Head of the Tax Policy Unit. Prior to that, he worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for ten years. He has also authored earlier works on tax administration and fiscal policy.
