Customers Cry Over Talk Time Tariff Increment

Some customers of the network operators have lamented on increment of call charges from the various telecommunication Companies as a result of new tax imposed by government.

In a separate interview with thepublisheronline.com, majority of the customers of the various telecommunication networks did not hide their frustrations over the call charge hike. They claimed it will adversely affect them, and called on the government to do something as early as possible about the situation.

One Kwabena Asare, who is a Vendor disclosed that, though he sells airtime, customers of the various networks spend more on their daily bases as he sees most of them buying airtime regularly.

“Sometimes, I feel pity for the customers because some of them buy airtime every hour which shows how they spend on calls daily,” he lamented.

Another woman also stressed that the government should have at least given the public the benefit since it has increased prices for almost every commodity on the market.

” Everything has been increased. Fuel price,electricity,water and now call charges? At least the government should have spared us on this”, she said.

Telcos Increase Costs Of Services

Three telecommunication companies on Thursday announced an upward review of the cost of their services, beginning Thursday, November 1.

This comes in the wake of amendments to Acts 970, 971 and 972 as announced in the mid-year budget review presented by Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta in July.

The amendments see the separation of the NHIL and GETFund from the Value Added Tax (VAT).

A press release by the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said the review by MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo is in strict compliance to Ghana’s laws.

Burden on consumers

Mr Ashigbey indicated that 5 per cent tax will be added.

“It’s only the taxes that will be added and we know there is elasticity of demands so it will affect the consumers”.

He explained that “prices in the sector have gone down over the years and consumers must look at the values they get from the telecoms”.

“It is so difficult but that is what we pay to help the nation and we are conversant of the fact that increments affect demand”.

Percentage increment

Mr. Ashigbey explained that the percentage increment will depend on individual telecom companies and their services.

“Every company has its tariff so we don’t talk about the tariffs together because of their plans and computations.

“But we hope the telecoms will come up with more innovation products to help consumers.”