Third-party insurance premiums up from January 1; ¢482 for private cars and ¢637 for taxis
Third party insurance premiums are set to go up from January 1, 2024.
This was after the insurance companies secured approval from the National Insurance Commission to carry out these adjustments.
Private vehicles are therefore expected to pay ¢482 for third-party insurance, whilst commercial taxis will pay ¢437.
On the other hand, private corporate will be charged ¢482, while hiring vehicles will pay ¢652. Motorcycles are also expected to pay ¢252.
Complying with new tariffs and possible sanctions
A letter to the insurance companies from the Ghana Insurers Association sighted by Joy Business, advised members to strictly comply with the approved rates, as failure will attract the needed sanctions from the NIC.
The NIC said it is closely monitoring the new tariffs to see whether it’s in line with what have been approved.
It added it will not hesitate to sanction companies that fail to apply the approved tariffs.
The Ghana Insurers Association also advised its members there will no longer be accepting the pre and post 2020 tariffs.
Sources further indicates that the capacity implication of ¢3000 and ¢5000 have been removed and will not make an impact on the premium collections.
Reasons behind increment
The Ghana Insurers Association in a letter to the insurance companies said the increment would help improve the financial position of the insurance companies to promote payment of legitimate claims.
Third-party insurance premium increase and VAT impact on non-life insurance products
Sources says the third party insurance premium increase did not factor in the Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Bill passed by Parliament last week, which may impose 21.9% VAT on all non-life insurance products. This will have resulted in insurance premiums going by more than 30%.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has yet to communicate to the public the date for implementing the five tax bills. However, the insurance companies have gone ahead to carry out these adjustments, minus the 21.9% application of the VAT on the non-life insurance products and business.
This could mean that when the GRA starts with the implementation of the VAT Amendment Bill , insurance premiums could go up again .