MTN users to pay more effective May 1

Costumers of Scancom PLC, operators of MTN Ghana, will pay more for data and talk time due to the 1% increase in the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).

MTN Ghana has implemented the levy, effective May 1, 2021, which would be passed on to consumers.

In a statement sighted by theghanareport.com, the company said:

“Scancom PLC wishes to inform you that following the introduction of the Covid-19 recovery levy, which has resulted in a 1% increase in the National Health Insurance Levy, talk time and data charges have been adjusted to reflect the tax change”.

The levy will increase the cost of services at a time of high demand for data for virtual meetings in the wake of the Covid-19.

Other telecommunication companies in the country are likely to follow suit.

MTN Ghana is the largest operator by subscribers, and its revenue lines increased significantly due to data subscriptions in the last year.

Covid-19 Health Recovery Levy

The 1% increase in the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) forms part of revenue measures to mitigate the devastating impact of the novel coronavirus.

This was announced in the budget presented to Parliament in March.

“To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, the government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu said at the time of reading the budget.

According to him, the levy “will also assist in the construction of 33 major health projects, the recruitment of more health professionals and agenda 111.”

The levy was part of many others approved by parliament despite some opposition.