Telcos Increase Call Tarriffs

Telecommunication networks MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo are set to review their tariffs upwards, effective November 1, this year.

The review is as a result of Act 970, 971, and 972 amended and passed by parliament, which was announced in the 2018 mid-year budget review presented by Ken Ofori Atta, the Finance Minister.

This, according to a statement signed and issued by Ken Ashigbey, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, means that consumers would bear cost of the new levies, hence the increase in the cost of telecommunication services.

“Our members who are responsible “would comply fully with Ghana’s laws and ensure the distinction between VAT and the new levies emanating from their separate origins and basis in law,” the statement read.

Parliament in July passed the four tax amendments to reflect the reality of government policy.

The objective was to “give effect to the conversion of National Health Insurance and Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) into levies that are not subject to the input-output mechanism, and delinking them from VAT by removing the option of input tax deductibility,” thereby giving both levies a unique and different legal identity and distinguished from VAT.

Mobile phone users, according to the statement, would be notified by their service providers prior to any changes being made before November 1.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum