Government raises taxes to secure digital infrastructure



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In the last half of 2019, the government will work to safeguard Ghana's digital infrastructure.

This is what justifies the increase in the tax on communication services by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta.

A Deputy Minister of Communication, Vincent Sowah Odotei, explained to Joybusiness the reasons for the tax increase.

The tax on communication services, also called communication tax, was introduced into the country's tax system by the former administration of President Kufuor in order to support the financing of technology projects in the country.

Presenting the budget review and the supplementary budget for the last half of 2019, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta announced a tax increase of 6% to 9% currently.

"The tax on communication services (CST) was introduced in 2008 at an ad valorem rate of 6%. The tax is levied on royalties owed by consumers for the use of communication services.

The government proposes to increase the tax to 9% in order to lay the foundation for the creation of a viable technology ecosystem in the country.

This will include, among other things, the establishment of systems for the identification and fight against cybercrime, the protection of users of information technologies and the fight against money laundering and corruption. 39, other financial crimes.

The increase will not be affected, however, the sharing ratio will be adjusted so that national youth employment programs continue to receive the same proportions as today. " , did he declare.

Sowah Odotei, Deputy Minister of Communications, hinted that the government would use the increase funds to protect key digital infrastructures.

"Cyber ​​protection is becoming a major security issue, and our US counterparts, for example, have been battling the violation of their cyberspace since 2016.

"We have just put in place a national cyber security authority to ensure that we continue to reap the benefits of technology. It is therefore important that we consider how to pay for this, the reasons for the increase in taxes. it's just a small margin for us to take care of the country's cyber ecosystem, "Sowah Odotei told Joybusiness.

In the meantime, Parliament should debate and approve the proposal.

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