Double Whammy For Ghanaians, As Call and Data Charges of Telcos Set For The Skies

Telecom operators in the country have warned that from May 1, 2021, consumers will start experiencing higher data and call charges because the Akufo Addo administration has slapped levies on calls and data usage in the country.

The telecom operator with the biggest market share, MTN Ghana, is the first to warn consumers of the impending price hikes. 

Today, April 30, 2021, MTN released a statement saying that it will pass on the cost of the so-called COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy slapped on them to consumers.

“Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) wishes to inform you that following the introduction of the COVI-19 Health Recovery Levy, which has resulted in a 1% increase in the National Health Insurance Levy, talk time/ data charges have been adjusted to reflect the tax change. This takes effect from 1st May 2021,” read the statement signed by Salihu M. Abu, the Senior Manager, Customer Relations & Credit Management for MTN.

Meanwhile, May 1, 2021, is expected to be the beginning of extremely difficult times for Ghanaians because the government has slapped several levies and increased old ones in the petroleum product price build-Up by as much as 160%.

Because of the interconnection of communications, petroleum, transportation, food and services, Ghanaians are in for a gloomy treat as transportation charges could be hiked to as much as 50%, Whatsup News gathered.

Hikes in transportation mean the customers and consumers will bear the brunt as service providers and traders will pass on the costs as they adjust to accommodate the new hikes across the board.