By Tony Yayo
The Director of Communication, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mohamed Jalloh, has recently disclosed that the promotions and bonuses, that Orange and Africell mobile companies used to extend, will soon resume after they were put on hold by the Telecommunication regulatory body, NATCOM.
The agreement was reached over the weekend during a two days information communication technology (ICT) and Telecoms sessions held in Kenema.
According to Mohamed Jalloh, the ministry and the National Revenue Authority are not against issuing out bonuses and promotion by GMS operators, but that such bonuses and promotions go against some sections of the Finance Act of 2020.
He continued that, at present, all stakeholders of NRA have warned mobile operators to work in line with the Finance Act, saying that the government was losing billion of leones from revenue generation.
Mohamed Jalloh continued that, based on the comments and feedbacks they have been receiving, the NRA and Telecommunication companies have reached an agreement for the resumption of Wednesday and Sunday bonuses, but that the NRA will impose tax on a certain threshold of revenue derived from the promotion as bonus.
He continued that the stakeholders have also reviewed the floor price for mobile tariffs, adding that they will soon commence a 90 days study on the tariff system in the country.
The Information Director also said that GMS operators must make sure that they conduct their businesses fairly and should not allow bonuses and promotion to take over their businesses.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Africell has expressed satisfaction over the new agreement and called on the government to look into other areas affecting the sector like infrastructure and tariff.