Embracing ICT Growth: Ghana Eliminates Smartphone Import Tax

The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), an international advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of accessible digital services, has warmly welcomed Ghana’s recent commitment to put an end to prohibitive import duties on smartphones.

In a move seen as instrumental to the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the fledgling African tech ecosystem, the government of Ghana has pledged its dedication to abolishing these previously expensive tax impositions. As such, this is perceived as the first substantial steps on the path to easier and affordable digital access. The A4AI has confirmed this policy change, advocating that it adheres to the set of key recommendations advanced earlier in the year by the A4AI-Ghana Multi-stakeholder coalition.

The proposals to revoke this import duty, first put forward by the A4AI Ghana Coalition Working Group on Taxation, were championed by powerhouse telecom industry figure Kwaku Saakyi-Addo, CEO of Ghana’s influential Telecoms Chamber.

As reported by trusted telecommunications industry website, Telecompaper, the obliteration of the significant 20 percent import duty will, in essence, substantially slash the cost of handsets in Ghana. In a country where taxes represent nearly 35 percent of the price tag for a smartphone, this is indeed a transformative policy change. Analysts predict a surge in smartphone usage as a result of the decreased taxes, consequently leading to amplified revenue from the Communication Service Tax, Value-Added Tax (VAT), and corporate taxes. This progressive move signifies Ghana’s commitment not only to improved ICT infrastructure but also to putting technology in the hands of its people, to further aid the growth and development of a digitally-oriented economy.

More on this developing story from IT News Africa

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.