Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Dzata George is sorry for the ordinary Ghanaian who has to bear the cost of increased communication service tax (CST)
According to him, global best practice recommends reduction in data and voice call prices but unfortunately for the Ghanaian, the Akufo-Addo led government is bent on slurping them dry.
“When global best practice is to achieve reduction in data and voice call prices, let us celebrate our President and his Communications Minister for successfully scheming to increase tariff prices.” He wrote.
The MP’s frustration comes on the back of calls to reduce the CST after it was increased from 6% to 9% in the last semi-year budget review.
The CST applied to any recharge purchase by subscribers, therefore, for every GH¢1 of recharge purchased, a 9% CST fee is charged the subscriber leaving ¢0.93 for the purchase of products and services.
The Communications Ministry in a letter ordered all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to stop passing on the 9% Communication Service Tax (CST) to subscribers but the telcos continue to charge subscribers
“In all these, the losers are the Ghanaian people. The Telcos would make their revenue targets, possible exceed, with the tariff increment. The Government is still going to rake in millions of $ at the start of every month via CST. Kwabena and Adjeley would pay more for the phone calls and data bundles.”
I weep for the Ghanaian. 🦁
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