Mobile Telecoms Operators (MNOs) in the country have reduce call and data tariffs to reflect the 4% decrease in the Communication Service Tax (CS) from 9% to 5%.
Finance Minister announced the reduction in his Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament in July this year, as part of the COVID-19 relief packages.
Following the Minister’s announcement, the telcos, through the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) also announced the reduction will reflect in tariffs from Tuesday, September 15, 2020, because they needed time to reconfigure their systems for a smooth transition.
In statement Monday, GCT said “we wish to notify mobile subscribers and the general public that…mobile network operators will adjust tariffs to reflect the 4% reduction in Communications Service Tax by Tuesday 15th of September 2020,” which is tomorrow.
It said the modifications will represent 5% CST charge and would be applied through a tariff adjustment on the products and services of telcos, in accordance with the passage of the Communication Services Tax (amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1025).
It quoted the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Dr. Ing. Edem Ashigbey as saying “The tariff adjustment program means when our customers pay the same price they would enjoy more, which is in line with the Government’s measures in alleviating cost burden on citizens in the wake of the global pandemic.”
According to him, the smooth reconfiguration of telcos’ systems to accommodate the commercial and technical requirements, is a testament of the effective dialogue and stakeholder engagements led by the Finance Ministry as well as its supervising Ministry and agencies.
Dr. Ken Ashigbey said each telco will notify their respective customers on the completion of the modification exercise and provide further transparency on the adjusted tariffs of their products and services while offering other relevant information post usage of these services.
He said the mobile industry remains committed to the socio-economic development of Ghana and that remains “our sole object and focus in driving and supporting Ghana’s digitization agenda.”
About the Telecoms Chamber
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication is the foremost mobile and technology industry association and a private initiative by the mobile network operators in Ghana. We are an advocacy institution established to help direct telecommunications policy, legislation and regulation, and pursue research towards the development of telecommunications. As the voice of the mobile operators and tower companies in Ghana, we work through direct engagements with government (institutions), civil society, key stakeholders and consumers to shape the mobile ecosystem and maximize the socio-economic benefits of mobile in Ghana. The Chamber was registered in 2010 and inaugurated in 2011.
