An estimated Ghs 1.5 billion in potential revenue losses by the State is said to have been saved through the Common Platform (CP) implemented to monitor revenue flows in the telecommunications sector.
This is in addition to some Ghs 470 million taxes saved between the first quarter of 2017 to date by the platform managed by KelniGvG.
According to the Communications and Digitization Minister-designate, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the increased tax revenues from the telecommunications sector and the prevention of the potential loss of the Ghs 1.5 billion would not have been possible if not for the implementation of the Common Platform.
“An estimated Ghs 470 million taxes was saved between Q1 2017 till date as a result of the announcement of the implementation of the platform and a potential Ghs 1.5 billion loss through to the end of the contract if the platform had not been implemented,” she said at the Parliamentary Vetting on Monday.
“My information is that as a follow up to the information that the platform has provided [information in terms of revenue saved by the platform], the GRA has engaged another independent auditor called SafariTech who has confirmed the findings from the platform,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Communications and Digitization Minister-designate at the Parliamentary Vetting on Monday, noted that both the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are not yet ready to takeover management of the Common Platform currently overseen by KelniGVG.
According to her, knowledge and technology transfer for the effective management of the platform by both statutory institutions is currently ongoing.
The NCA and GRA are ultimately expected to manage the platform to meet regulatory obligations under the Communication Service Tax Act. But as to when the NCA and GRA will take over management of the platform is yet to be known.
Speaking on the issue, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said, “I cannot indicate which period they will be comfortable to take over, the NCA and GRA will have to inform me that they are sufficiently capable of managing the platform and when they do, the platform will be seamlessly handed over to them.”
