The Ghanaian department of Telecommunication has increased its calls for the elimination of the law that imposes a charge of 19% per minute on inbound global calls on telecommunication companies. The head of research and communications, Derek Laryea, said that the law is preventing the revenue generation efforts of telecommunication companies in the country.
Speaking to some journalist, Derek Laryea said, “Year on year there is always a dip and I know in 2016 we had some policy statement just before the elections about looking at that tax policy. For us as the industry, we believe it is leakage and it also fuels SIM boxing. I am charging 19 cents and my local calls is about 4.8pesewas which is less than one cent, SIM Box fraudsters would take advantage.”
“More importantly the consumer’s behavior and pattern have changed and today you will see a lot of people making phone calls directed to over-the-top applications like WhatsApp, zoom which is really the norm today at the back of the pandemic. I always make the argument that if I have GHc1 data and can do an excess international call with it, why do I have to spend 19% which is obviously high for any consumer,” Derek emphasized.
