Whereas a draft of this Order was laid before the House of Commons in accordance with the provisions of section 788(10) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988(1), and an Address has been presented to Her Majesty by that House praying that an Order may be made in the terms of that draft:

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred upon Her by section 788 of the said Act, and of all other powers enabling Her in that behalf, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:—

1.  This Order may be cited as the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Ghana) Order 1993.

2.  It is hereby declared—

(a)that the arrangements specified in the Convention set out in the Schedule to this Order have been made with the Government of the Republic of Ghana with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax, corporation tax or capital gains tax and taxes of a similar character imposed by the laws of Ghana;

(b)that those arrangements include provisions with respect to the exchange of information necessary for carrying out the domestic laws of the United Kingdom and the laws of Ghana concerning taxes covered by the arrangements including, in particular, provisions about the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to those taxes; and

(c)that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect.

N. H. Nicholls
Clerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULECONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ghana;
Desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains;
Have agreed as follows:


Article 1Personal scope

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.


Article 2Taxes covered

(1) The taxes which are the subject of this Convention are:

(a)in the case of the United Kingdom:

(i)the income tax;

(ii)the corporation tax; and

(iii)the capital gains tax;

(hereinafter referred to as “United Kingdom tax”);

(b)in the case of Ghana:

(i)the income tax;

(ii)the capital gains tax;

(iii)the petroleum income tax;

(iv)the minerals and mining tax;

(hereinafter referred to as “Ghana tax”).

(2) This Convention shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place of, the taxes of that Contracting State referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

Article 3General definitions

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)the term “United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including any area outside the territorial sea of the United Kingdom which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of the United Kingdom concerning the Continental Shelf, as an area within which the rights of the United Kingdom with respect to the sea bed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;

(b)The term “Ghana” means the Republic of Ghana including any area outside the territorial sea of Ghana which in accordance with international law has been or may hereafter be designated, under the laws of Ghana concerning the Continental Shelf, as an area within which the rights of Ghana with respect to the sea bed and sub-soil and their natural resources may be exercised;

(c)the term “national” means:

(i)in relation to the United Kingdom, any British citizen, or any British subject not possessing the citizenship of any other Commonwealth country or territory, provided he has the right of abode in the United Kingdom; and any legal person, partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the law in force in the United Kingdom;

(ii)in relation to Ghana, any citizen of Ghana and any legal person, partnership, association or other entity deriving its status as such from the law in force in Ghana;

(d)the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean the United Kingdom or Ghana, as the context requires;

(e)the term “person” comprises an individual, a company and any other body of persons, but does not include a partnership;

(f)the term “company” means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

(g)the terms “enterprise of a Contracting State” and “enterprise of the other Contracting State” mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

(h)the term “international traffic” means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

(i)the term “competent authority” means, in the case of the United Kingdom, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or their authorised representative, and, in the case of Ghana, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service or his authorised representative.

(2) As regards the application of this Convention by a Contracting State any term not otherwise defined shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that Contracting State relating to the taxes which are the subject of this Convention.

Article 4Fiscal domicile

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, the term “resident of a Contracting State” means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature; the term does not include any individual who is liable to tax in that Contracting State only if he derives income or capital gains from sources therein.

(2) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:

(a)he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

(b)if the Contracting State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has no permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;

(c)if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State of which he is a national;

(d)if he is a national of both Contracting States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

(3) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.

Article 5Permanent establishment

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, the term “permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

(2) The term “permanent establishment” includes especially:

(a)a place of management;

(b)a branch;

(c)an office;

(d)a factory;

(e)a workshop;

(f)a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources;

(g)a building site or construction or installation project which exists for more than six months;

(h)the provision of supervisory activities for more than three months on a building site or construction or installation project; and

(i)nstallation or the provision of supervisory activities in connection therewith incidental to the sale of machinery or equipment where the charges payable for such activities exceed 10 per cent of the free on board sale price of the machinery or equipment.

(3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “permanent establishment” shall be deemed not to include:

(a)the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

(b)the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;

(c)the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

(d)the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

(e)the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;

(f)the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of this paragraph, provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article, where a person — other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph (5) of this Article applies — is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph (3) of this Article which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

(5) An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

(6) The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6Income from immovable property

(1) Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) The term “immovable property” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

(3) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (3) of this Article shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7Business profits

(1) The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.

(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

(3) In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including a reasonable allocation of executive and general administrative expenses incurred for the purposes of the enterprise as a whole, whether in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. However, no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment. Likewise, no account shall be taken, in the determination of the profits of a permanent establishment, of amounts charged (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission for specific services performed or for management, or except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices.

(4) No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

(5) Where profits include items of income or capital gains which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

(6) Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine according to its law the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph (2) shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.

(7) For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

Article 8Shipping and air transport

(1) Profits derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State.

(2) For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic include:

(a)income from the rental on a bareboat basis of ships or aircraft; and

(b)profits from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise;

where such rental or such use, maintenance or rental, as the case may be, is incidental to the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic.

(3) Where profits within paragraphs (1) or (2) of this Article are derived by a resident of a Contracting State from participation in a pool, a joint business, or an international operating agency, the profits attributable to that resident shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which he is a resident.

Article 9Associated enterprises

(1) Where:

(a)an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State; or

(b)the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State;

and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, may be included by a Contracting State in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

(2) Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State — and taxes accordingly — profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

Article 10Dividends

(1) Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends and is subject to tax in respect of the dividends in that other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed:

(a)7.5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company which controls, directly or indirectly, at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividends;

(b)15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases.

(3) The term “dividends” as used in this Article means income from shares, or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights assimilated to income from shares by the taxation laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident and also includes any other item which, under the laws of the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividend is a resident, is treated as a dividend or distribution of a company.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in that other State.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (2) of this Article, if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a body of persons or trust established for charitable purposes only and is a resident of one of the Contracting States, that body of persons or trust shall be deemed to be subject to tax in that State in respect of those dividends.

(7) The provisions of this Article shall not apply if the right giving rise to the dividends was created or assigned mainly for the purpose of taking advantage of this Article.

Article 11Interest

(1) Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest and is subject to tax in respect of the interest in that other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

(3) The term “interest” as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor’s profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures. The term “interest” shall not include any item which is treated as a distribution under the provisions of Article 10 of this Convention.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

(6) Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest paid exceeds, for whatever reason, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount of interest. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

(7) Any provision in the laws of either Contracting State relating only to interest paid to a non-resident company shall not operate so as to require such interest paid to a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State to be treated as a distribution or dividend by the company paying such interest. The preceding sentence shall not apply to interest paid to a company which is a resident of one of the Contracting States in which more than 50 per cent of the voting power is controlled, directly or indirectly, by a person or persons who are residents of the other Contracting State.

(8) The relief from tax provided for in paragraph (2) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest:

(a)is exempt from tax on that interest in the Contracting State of which he is a resident; and

(b)sells, or contracts to sell, the debt-claim from which that interest is derived within three months from the date on which he acquired that debt-claim.

(9) The provisions of this Article shall not apply if it was the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid to take advantage of this Article by means of that creation or assignment.

(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of this Article, interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State if it is derived and beneficially owned by the Government of the other Contracting State or a local authority thereof or any agency or instrumentality of that Government or local authority or by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

(11) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of this Convention and of paragraph (2) of this Article, interest arising in Ghana which is paid to and beneficially owned by a resident of the United Kingdom shall be exempt from tax in Ghana if it is paid in respect of a loan made, guaranteed or insured, or any other debt-claim or credit guaranteed or insured by the United Kingdom Export Credits Guarantee Department.

(12) For the purposes of paragraph (2) of this Article, if the beneficial owner of the interest is a body of persons or trust established for charitable purposes only and is a resident of one of the Contracting States, that body of persons or trust shall be deemed to be subject to tax in that State in respect of that interest.

Article 12Royalties

(1) Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties and is subject to tax in respect of the royalties in that other Contracting State the tax so charged shall not exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

(3) The term “royalties” as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work (but not including cinematograph films, and films or tapes for radio or television broadcasting), any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information (know-how) concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 of this Convention, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State where the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

(6) Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties paid exceeds, for whatever reason, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

(7) The provisions of this Article shall not apply if it was the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid to take advantage of this Article by means of that creation or assignment.

(8) For the purposes of paragraph (2) of this Article, if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a body of persons or trust established for charitable purposes only and is a resident of one of the Contracting States, that body of persons or trust shall be deemed to be subject to tax in that State in respect of those royalties.

Article 13Capital gains

(1) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 of this Convention and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of:

(a)shares deriving their value or the greater part of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State, or

(b)an interest in a partnership or trust the assets of which consist principally of immovable property situated in the other Contracting State, or of shares referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above,

may be taxed in that other State.

(3) Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

(4) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in that State.

(5) Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Article shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

(6) The provisions of paragraph (5) of this Article shall not affect the right of a Contracting State to levy according to its law a tax on capital gains from the alienation of any property derived by an individual who is a resident of the other Contracting State and has been a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State at any time during the five years immediately preceding the alienation of the property.

Article 14Independent personal services

(1) Subject to the provisions of Article 17 of this Convention income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base.

(2) The term “professional services” includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15Dependent personal services

(1) Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of this Convention, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

(a)the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days within any period of twelve months; and

(b)the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State; and

(c)the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

(3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State of which the enterprise operating the ship or aircraft is a resident.

Article 16Directors' fees

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.


Article 17Management and technical fees

(1) Management fees arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

(2) However, such management fees may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise, and according to the law of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the management fees the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the management fees.

(3) The term “management fees” as used in this Article means payments of any kind to any person, other than to an employee of the person making the payments, in consideration for any services of a managerial, technical or consultancy nature.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the management fees, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the management fees arise through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the obligation in respect of which the management fees are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

(5) A resident of one of the Contracting States who derives and beneficially owns management fees which arise in the other Contracting State may elect, for any year of assessment or financial year, that the tax chargeable in respect of those management fees in the Contracting State in which they arise shall be calculated as if he had a permanent establishment or fixed base in the last-mentioned Contracting State and as if those management fees were taxable in accordance with Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, as profits attributable to that permanent establishment or fixed base.

(6) Management fees shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is that State itself, a political subdivision, a local authority or a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the management fees, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the management fees was incurred, and where such management fees are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base then such management fees shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

(7) Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the management fees paid exceeds, for whatever reason, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

(8) The provisions of this Article shall not apply if it was the main purpose or one of the main purposes of any person concerned with the creation or assignment of the rights in respect of which the management fees are paid to take advantage of this Article by means of that creation or assignment.

Article 18Artistes and athletes

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 14 and Article 15 of this Convention, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as an athlete, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

(2) Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or an athlete in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or athlete himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15 of this Convention, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or athlete are exercised.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article, income derived from activities as defined in paragraph (1) performed under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Contracting States shall be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which those activities are exercised.

Article 19Pensions

(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 20 of this Convention, pensions and other similar remuneration paid in consideration of past employment to a resident of a Contracting State who is subject to tax in that State in respect thereof and any annuity paid to such a resident shall be taxable only in that State.

(2) The term “annuity” means a stated sum payable periodically at stated times during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth.

Article 20Government service

(1) (a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (1)(a) of this Article, such remunera-tion shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who:

(i)is a national of that State; or

(ii)did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

(2) (a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (2)(a) of this Article, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of and a national of that State.

(3) The provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 19 of this Convention shall apply to remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 21Students

Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that first-mentioned State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.


Article 22Teachers

(1) A professor or teacher who visits one of the Contracting States for the purpose of teaching or engaging in research at a university or any other recognised educational institution in that Contracting State and who, immediately before that visit, was a resident of the other Contracting State shall be exempted from tax by the first-mentioned Contracting State in respect of any remuneration received for such teaching or research for a period not exceeding two years from the date of his first arrival in that State for such purpose.

(2) The exemption provided in this Article may be applied by the Contracting State in which the teaching or research is performed either to the current payments to such professor or teacher in anticipation of fulfilment of the requirements of paragraph (1) or by way of withholding and refund, but in both cases exemption shall be conditional upon fulfilment of the requirements of paragraph (1).

(3) This Article shall apply to income from research only if such research is undertaken by the professor or teacher in the public interest and not primarily for the benefit of some other private person or persons.

Article 23Other income

Items of income beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, which are not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention, other than income paid out of trusts or the estates of deceased persons in the course of administration, shall be taxable only in that State provided that the beneficial owner is subject to tax in respect of those items of income in that State.


Article 24Limitation of relief

(1) Where under any provision of this Convention any income is relieved from tax in a Contracting State and, under the law in force in the other Contracting State, a person, in respect of that income, is subject to tax by reference to the amount thereof which is remitted to or received in that other Contracting State and not by reference to the full amount thereof, then the relief to be allowed under this Convention in the first-mentioned Contracting State shall apply only to so much of the income as is taxed in the other Contracting State.

(2) Where under Article 13 of this Convention gains may only be taxed in one of the Contracting States, and under the law in force in that State a person is subject to tax in respect of those gains by reference to the amount thereof which is received in that State and not by reference to the full amount thereof, that Article shall apply only to so much of the gains as are taxed in that State.

Article 25Elimination of double taxation

(1) Subject to the provisions of the law of the United Kingdom regarding the allowance as a credit against United Kingdom tax of tax payable in a territory outside the United Kingdom (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):

(a)Ghana tax payable under the laws of Ghana and in accordance with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within Ghana (excluding in the case of a dividend, tax payable in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any United Kingdom tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which the Ghana tax is computed;

(b)in the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of Ghana to a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom and which controls directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any Ghana tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph) the Ghana tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid.

(2) Subject to the provisions of the law of Ghana regarding the allowance as a credit against Ghana tax of tax payable in a territory outside Ghana (which shall not affect the general principle hereof):

(a)United Kingdom tax payable under the laws of the United Kingdom and in accordance with this Convention, whether directly or by deduction, on profits, income or chargeable gains from sources within the United Kingdom (excluding in the case of a dividend, tax payable in respect of the profits out of which the dividend is paid) shall be allowed as a credit against any Ghana tax computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which United Kingdom tax is computed.

(b)In the case of a dividend paid by a company which is a resident of the United Kingdom to a company which is resident in Ghana and which controls directly or indirectly at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, the credit shall take into account (in addition to any United Kingdom tax for which credit may be allowed under the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph) the United Kingdom tax payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid. In any case the amount of tax credit to be granted under this paragraph shall not exceed the proportion of the Ghana tax which such profits, income or chargeable gains bear to the entire profits, income or chargeable gains chargeable to Ghana tax.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article, profits and income owned by a resident of a Contracting State which may be taxed in the other Contracting State in accordance with this Convention shall be deemed to arise from sources in that other Contracting State.

(4) For the purpose of paragraph (1) of this Article, the term “Ghana tax payable” shall be deemed to include any amount which would have been payable as Ghana tax for any year but for an exemption or reduction of tax granted for that year on any part thereof under any of the following provisions of Ghana law:

(a)Sections 12 and 13 of the Investment Code 1985 (PNDCL. 116) but in the case of Section 12 excluding the exemption or reduction of tax granted to any enterprise solely in respect of activities specified in Part A. Manufacturing Industries: (a) manufacturing for export; Sections 3(1)(f), 3(1)(tt), 4A and 4B of the Income Tax Decree 1975 (SMCD5.); Sections 23 and 26 of the Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDCL. 153), so far as they were in force on, and have not been modified since, the date of signature of this Convention, or have been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect their general character; or

(b)any other provision which may subsequently be made granting an exemption or reduction of tax which is agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States to be of a substantially similar character, if it has not been modified thereafter or has been modified only in minor respects so as not to affect its general character.

Provided that relief from United Kingdom tax shall not be given by virtue of this paragraph in respect of income from any source if the income arises in a period starting more than ten years after the exemption from, or reduction of, Ghana tax was first granted in respect of that source.

Article 26Non-discrimination

(1) Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances are or may be subjected.

(2) The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities.

(3) Except where the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 9, paragraph (6) of Article 11, paragraph (6) of Article 12 or paragraph (7) of Article 17 of this Convention apply, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (7) of Article 11, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

(4) Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

(5) Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as obliging either Contracting State to grant to individuals not resident in that State any of the personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for tax purposes which are granted to individuals so resident or to its nationals.

(6) The provisions of this Article shall apply to the taxes which are the subject of this Convention.

Article 27Mutual agreement procedure

(1) Where a resident of a Contracting State considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident.

(2) The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation not in accordance with the Convention.

(3) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention.

(4) The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 28Exchange of information

(1) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by this Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Convention, in particular to prevent fraud and to facilitate the administration of statutory provisions against legal avoidance. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) involved in the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by this Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

(2) In no case shall the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article be construed so as to impose on the competent authority of either Contracting State the obligation:

(a)to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice prevailing in either Contracting State;

(b)to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of either Contracting State;

(c)to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy.

Article 29Members of diplomatic or permanent missions and consular posts

Nothing in this Convention shall affect any fiscal privileges accorded to members of diplomatic or permanent missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.


Article 30Entry into force

(1) Each of the Contracting States shall notify to the other through diplomatic channels the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this Convention. This Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications and shall thereupon have effect:

(a)in the United Kingdom:

(i)in respect of income tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 6th April in the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force;

(ii)in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after 1st April in the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force;

(b)in Ghana:

in respect of income tax, capital gains tax, petroleum income tax and minerals and mining tax on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force.

(2) The Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains signed at London on 29th November 1977 shall be superseded by this Convention and the Arrangement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Gold Coast for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income which was made in 1947 shall terminate and cease to have effect in respect of the taxes to which this Convention applies in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article.

Article 31Termination

(1) This Convention shall remain in force until termination by one of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect:

(a)in the United Kingdom:

(i)in respect of income tax and capital gains tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 6th April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;

(ii)in respect of corporation tax, for any financial year beginning on or after 1st April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;

(b)in Ghana:

in respect of income tax, capital gains tax, petroleum income tax and minerals and mining tax for the year of assessment beginning on or after 1st January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at Accra, Ghana this

20th day of January 1993.

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Chalker of Wallasey

For the Government of the Republic of Ghana:

K. Botchwey

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)
The Convention with Ghana is set out in the Schedule to this Order.
The Convention provides for business profits not arising through a permanent establishment to be taxed only in the country of the taxpayer’s residence. Profits attributable to a permanent establishment may be taxed in the country in which the permanent establishment is situated (Articles 5 and 7).
Income from immovable property may be taxed in the country in which the property is situated (Article 6).
Shipping and air transport profits are generally to be taxed only in the residence state of the operator (Article 8).
The Convention includes rules for determining taxable profits when a company in one country is related to a company in the other (Article 9).
The rate of tax imposed in the country of source on dividends derived by a resident of the other is not to exceed 7.5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends when the beneficial owner is a company controlling at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividends, and 15 per cent in all other cases (Article 10).
The rate of tax imposed in the country of source on interest derived by a resident of the other country is not to exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount flowing to the other country. Certain categories of interest (e.g. interest paid to the Government of the other country) will be exempt from tax in the source state (Article 11).
The rate of tax imposed in the source country on royalties is limited to 12.5 per cent where the beneficial owner is a resident of the other country (Article 12).
Capital gains from the alienation of immovable property may be taxed in the country in which the property is situated. Capital gains from the alienation of movable property are normally to be taxed only in the country of residence of the taxpayer unless they arise from the disposal of assets of a permanent establishment which the taxpayer has in the other country (Article 13).
The earnings of temporary business visitors and some other individuals are, subject to certain conditions, to be taxed only in the country of the taxpayer’s residence (Articles 14 and 15). Fees received by a resident of one country in his capacity as a director of a company resident in the other country may be taxed in the latter country (Article 16).
The rate of tax imposed by the source country on management and technical fees paid to a resident of the other country is in general not to exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount (Article 17). Income derived from the activities of artistes and athletes may be taxed in the country in which those activities are performed (Article 18). Occupational pensions (other than those paid in respect of government service) and annuities are to be taxed only in the recipient’s country of residence (Article 19) while government service remuneration and pensions are normally to be taxed only by the paying Government (Article 20). Payments made to visiting students and and business apprentices are generally exempt from tax in the country visited (Article 21). The remuneration of visiting teachers and professors is also generally exempt from tax in the country visited for a period not exceeding two years (Article 22). Other income (with the exception of income from trusts and estates of deceased persons under administration) not specified in the Convention remains taxable only in the recipient’s country of residence (Article 23).
Where income continues to be taxable in both countries credit will be given in the taxpayer’s country of residence for tax imposed by the other country. The credit to be given in the United Kingdom for tax imposed in Ghana includes credit for tax spared under certain provisions of Ghana law. In the case of dividends, the United Kingdom will give credit for the underlying tax paid in Ghana where the shareholder is a United Kingdom company which controls at least 10 per cent of the voting power in the company paying the dividends (Article 25).
There are provisions safeguarding nationals and enterprises of one country against discriminatory taxation in the other country (Article 26), and for consultation (Article 27) and exchanges of information (Article 28) between the taxation authorities of the two countries.
The Convention will enter into force on the date of the later of the notifications by each country of the completion of its legislative procedures. The Convention is to take effect in the United Kingdom on or after 1st April in respect of corporation tax and on or after 6th April for income tax and capital gains tax in the calendar year next following that in which it enters into force. The date of entry into force will in due course be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.

(1)
1988 c. 1; section 788 is extended by section 277 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12).