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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elimination of the 20 percent import duty will essentially reduce the cost of handsets in Ghana.</td></tr>
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The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has welcomed Ghana’s commitment to abolish pricey import duties on smartphones. 
 

The Ghanian government has announced these first steps in a drive to 
enable affordable internet access through policy reform. A4AI said the 
step, confirmed in the 2015 Budget presented, was a key recommendation 
developed by A4AI-Ghana Multi-stakeholder coalition established earlier 
this year. 

Proposals to remove this duty were recommended by the A4AI Ghana 
Coalition Working Group on Taxation, led by Kwaku Saakyi-Addo, CEO of 
Telecoms Chamber. 
 

According to Telecompaper, the elimination of the 20 percent import 
duty will essentially reduce the cost of handsets in Ghana, where taxes 
make up approximately 35 percent of the cost of a smartphone. It is 
expected that the increase in smartphone penetration, following the 
lower taxes, will increase revenue from Communication Service Tax, VAT 
and corporate taxes. 
 

In a statement to media the government revealed that: “Communication 
is shifting from voice to data and mobile data is projected to grow 6.3 
times between 2013 and 2018. It is being proposed that in order to 
increase smartphone penetration, and in line with Government’s policy of
 bridging the digital divide within the country, import duties on 
smartphones will be essentially removed. It is expected that the 
increase in smartphone penetration will increase revenue from 
Communication Service Tax, VAT and corporate taxes.” 
 

By removing taxation, according to Sonia Jorge Executive Director of 
the Alliance for Affordable Internet, this will be the first step to get
 Ghanian citizens online. 
 
Source: itnewsafrica.com

Ghana set to abolish mobile phone tax

The elimination of the 20 percent import duty will essentially reduce the cost of handsets in Ghana. The Alliance for Affordable Interne...