USAG calls for 50% reduction of Communication Service Tax

The University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) has implored the government to reduce the Communication Service Tax (CST) by 50% and to zero-rate all educational websites to facilitate effective student e-learning experience.

This is in line with former President Mahama’s call on government to temporarily reduce the Communication Service Tax as most people are working from home.

Speaking on Campus Exclusive on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Coordinating Secretary of USAG, Joshua Nii Tackie Essel said extraordinary measures ought to be rolled out by the telecommunication companies to enure to the benefits of students should the 50 per cent waiver be granted.

“So what USAG is trying to tell the government is that we will like to have a slash of the 9 per cent of CST so that at least there can be some sort of relaxing on the internet bundle,” he stated.

Responding to the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications’ encouragement to citizens to judiciously use voice and data services, Mr Essel maintained that the telcos must boost their systems to accommodate the surge in numbers for internet consumption rather that delight in the vent of possible flaws.

Check This Out How Education Minister denied Teacher Unions copy of Pre-Tertiary Education bill since 2017

“These are some of the things that I don’t agree with the Telcos. As a Telco you know this is the time where every single person in the house will like you work on the internet and with this social distancing where you are not able to go out the only thing you can resort to is the internet  so I am expecting them to up their game rather than complain about the usage of data,” he added.

Ever since the Akufo-Addo government increased the Communication Service Tax (CST) from 6% to 9% in the latter part of 2019, clients of telecom operators have bemoaned data charges, saying it is having a toll on their earnings.

Story by: Yohaness Kofi


SEND US YOUR STORIES FOR PUBLICATION VIA WHATSAPP NUMBER 0506440219

Get the Ghana Education Service New Standard – Based Scheme of Learning (SOL) HERE

Get the Ghana Education Service New Standard – Based Curriculum HERE

Get the  WAEC Marking Schemes HERE

Get the NaCCA/GES Standard -Based Lesson Plans HERE

Get the WAEC BECE, WASSCE, NTC Licensure Exam and Teachers’ Promotion Exam Past Questions HERE

Previous articleJUST IN: Eastern Region records 20 more COVID-19 Cases
Next articlePapa Owusu Ankomah tests positive for coronavirus, moved into ICU
Avatar of Ellis Ferdinand
Ellis Ferdinand is a Journalist, Blogger and Founder of Ellis Multimedia, a parent company of EducationGhana.org, an Online Education News Blog, PoliticsGhana.com and GhanaNaija.net. Ellis Ferdinand is a Graduate of Accra College of Education and the University of Cape Coast, where he obtained a Diploma In Basic Education and a Bachelor of Education in Accounting. He is currently Reading his Master of Philosophy in Curriculum and Pedagogic Studies at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. Ellis Ferdinand won Blogger of the Year at the 2018 National Students’ Awards and was also adjudged 14th Best Ghanain Blogger in 2018 among the Top 50 Ghanaian Bloggers of 2018. He introduced the Concept of Education Blogging in Ghana in 2014 with his famous blog EducationGhana.net. now EducationGhana.org His Blog won Best Media Promoting Education in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, an Award organized by Neogenics Education Consult. In 2019, He adjudged the Most Promising West African Blogger of the Year in Nigeria. He won Writer of the Year at the 2021 EDUCOM AWARDS

What's your take on this Latest Development?