Three illegally DSTV decoder dealers, have been arrested for importing and selling MC Nigeria decoders at Kumasi in Ghana.
The shops of the dealers were raided with the support of the Cyber Crime Unit and SWAT team of Ghana CID Police in Kumasi.
However, the Police seized items like boxes of decoders, and the personal details of subscribers from the ledgers.
The DStv decoders from Nigeria which are smuggled into the country, deny the country of requisite import duties.
The purchase and use of such decoders therefore makes one an accessory to tax evasion.
This is because one’s monthly subscriptions are paid in Nigeria, thus, avoiding the payment of tax in Ghana.
According to Cecil Sunkwa Mills, General Manager, MultiChoice Ghana (MCG), “The activities of such persons on the market contravenes the electronic communications act and a number of importation and tax laws in Ghana.”
He explained that MCG is the only company in Ghana with the special licence to import and distribute DStv decoders across the country.
According to him by law, all monthly DStv subscriptions paid in Ghana should attract 15% VAT, 2.5% NHIL and 6% CST.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax applied on the value added to goods and services at each stage in the production and distribution chain. It forms part of the final price the consumer pays for goods or services.
The National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) is a levy on goods and services supplied in or imported into Ghana. All goods and services are subject to the levy unless they are exempt.
The Communications Service Tax (CST) is a tax levied on charges for the use of communications services that are provided by communications service operators. CST is imposed under Section 1 of the Communications Service Tax Act 2008, (Act 754).
According to MultiChoice Ghana, anyone who may have acquired such decoders should contact the nearest MultiChoice office to have their decoder regularised.
Report by: Stephanie Horsu
