Gov’t reduces CST from 9% to 5%

Government has reduced the Communication Service tax from 9% to 5%.

Telecom consumers will begin to see the change reflect in the billing of their calls and data usage from September 15.

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 the passage of the Communication Services Tax (amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1025), ” the telecom chamber said in a statement.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Dr. Ing. Edem Ashigbey has said “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.”

The statement added: “The smooth reconfiguration of service providers’ 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 our supervising Ministry and agencies.

“Mobile Network Operators will notify their 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. 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”.

Source: Starr