Accra: The Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools, Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah, has revealed that the escalating cost of textbooks is partly due to the removal of tax waivers previously granted on imported books. He elaborated that publishers who used to travel to countries like China for printing books benefited from waived tax components when importing these books into Ghana.
According to Ghana Web, Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah, in an interview with Isaac Addae on Morning Starr, mentioned that the elimination of these waivers now forces publishers to absorb the additional tax expenses, thereby increasing the overall price of books. He explained that publishers who previously enjoyed tax exemptions now face the financial burden of these costs, which are passed on to consumers.
He emphasized that understanding the issue requires looking beyond the final price parents pay, as multiple factors along the supply chain contribute to the cost of textbooks. Additionally, he pointed out that price differences among sellers could be attributed to the terms of their relationships with publishers. Some sellers operate under a credit-debtor relationship, where books provided on credit may incur interesta and other related costs.
Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah stressed that quality education in Ghana comes with significant expenses. He urged stakeholders to consider all associated costs in discussions about textbook pricing, highlighting the complex dynamics involved in delivering quality education.