The parliament in Ghana has withdrawn a bill that sought to introduce a 6 percent tax on inbound international phone calls.

The Communications Service Tax (Amendment) Bill or ‘Talk Tax’ was withdrawn for further consultation and changes to some clauses following opposition to it by Minority members in the house and public outcry after its announcement.

The bill was slated for passage last Friday but rather ended up been shot down after various minority members raised concern it was anti-business and ill-thought out.

Last week , the country’s parliament introduced an amendment bill to impose a 6 percent tax on incoming international calls, as a way of raising revenue for the government.

Information emanating from the country’s law-making house by Accra’s Daily Graphic newspaper indicated that, the views of the telecom operators which were submitted in a memorandum to the House on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 are to be taken into consideration for further consultations.

The issue of interconnectivity and the charges to be levied on receivers of international calls which generated heated debate between the Minority and the Majority groups is to be discussed with stakeholders.

The amendment sought to impose 6 percent tax on receivers of international calls, receipt of text messages and electronic mails.

The proposed amount to be charged for each call or e-mail is equivalent to six cents (US).

Mobile Telecom operators that failed to comply and exact the charges would have faced sanctions, including a revoking of its operating license by the National Communications Authority (NCA).