Summary
- Two helicopters to be delivered as a gift to KNUST by PHI Century Limited to assist with aeronautical studies at the aerospace engineering unit have been halted by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over issues of taxation.
- The GRA is demanding some thousands of Ghanaian cedis from KNUST before the helicopters are released.
The aerospace engineering department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is facing an uncertain future regarding the acquisition of two helicopters generously offered by PHI Century Ltd.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has raised a tax-related issue that might hinder the department's access to these helicopters, which are crucial for practical training and improving the skills of young aeronautical engineers.
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The two ageing helicopters were initially brought into the country by PHI Century Limited, a joint venture between PHI Aviation and Century Aviation Company Limited.
The helicopters were imported to support transportation requirements for offshore drilling rigs and production platforms at Cape Three Points in the Western Region.
At the time of their importation, they were considered tax-free since the plan was to export them once their assigned duties were fulfilled.
As these helicopters have aged, PHI Century decided not to transport them back to the United States but instead offered to donate them to KNUST for the training of aerospace engineers.
However, the Ghana Revenue Authority has demanded that KNUST pay a substantial amount in taxes to receive the helicopters for academic use and to benefit the new School of Aeronautical Studies at KNUST.
An aviation expert familiar with the situation emphasized the significance of these helicopters for KNUST's aerospace engineering unit. They noted, “These are equipment that the aerospace engineering unit of KNUST lack and would greatly help them, instead of going to gift them to a school in the US.”
