Sam Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations has responded to critics calling for the removal of the 39% tariffs on data purchases.
According to Sam George, people think data costs must be cheaper with just the stroke of a pen.
Sam George over the weekend was trending on X, with netizens mounting pressure on him to remove the over 39% in tariffs on every data purchase which will in turn reduce data costs.
The sector minister in a post on X over the weekend stated, “I am impressed with the enthusiasm in your advocacy but facts remain facts. You have rightly diagnosed the tariffs in the price build-up for data. Maybe it is important to educate you since you may be unfamiliar with the laws of Ghana, that no Minister, except the Minister for Finance through an instrument laid before Parliament can REMOVE any tax or tariff handle as it affects government revenue. So you may tag me a thousand a post but the fact is that until we get the Minister for Finance to approve the removal or reduction of sector-specific tariffs, it is all enthusiasm and not facts.
I am however glad that even though tariff reductions bring the biggest relief, they are not the only options available to me. I am happy with the direction of the conversation with the Finance and Energy Ministers in the medium term. In the short term, the regulator would be implementing policy for immediate effects to be felt.
Hope this helps and clarifies the issues for you”.
A netizen in reaction to Sam Georege’s post on X, stated, “You’ve contradicted yourself, Hon. Sam George. In opposition, you called out the former Minister for authorizing a regulatory tariff through the NCA — not a statutory tax passed by Parliament. You described it as a deceptive increase and promised action. But now in office, you’re claiming it takes the Finance Minister and Parliament to reverse it?”
Sam George speaking at the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day event on May 19, stated, “I’ve been trending over the weekend on Twitter because people think data costs must be cheaper by just the stroke of my pen.”
“I set up a committee whose mandate in 14 days was to develop a roadmap that will lead to a drop in the prices of data. “
“In 13 days they delivered a road map. We’re dealing with 8 years of distortion of the market. I wish I could fix it arbitrarily, but it takes a carefully calculated effort. “
“My promise was that by the end of this year, we will see prices drop and my promise remains. Just trust the process,” he added.
