On Wednesday[April 17], The National Communications Authority ( NCA) , as part of its mandate on consumer protection organised a consumer Forum in Tamale on the Theme ” Safeguarding Consumer Rights through Effective Communication “.
Addressing the Forum, Dr. Joe Anokye, the Director General, National Communications Authority, said , the Forum reflects the unwavering commitment of the National Communications Authority ( NCA) towards fostering an inclusive digital ecosystem and ensuring equitable access for all Ghana’s digital economy.
He added that the NCA is one of eleven (11) agencies under the Ministry Of Communications and Digitalisation, the Authority operates within a robust legal framework such as the Electronic Communications Act of 2008 ( Act 775). Section 28 this Act mandates the Authority to safeguard consumer rights through a consumer code of conduct that outlines the responsibilities service providers own to consumers .
In addition to the Electronic Communications Act, other legal framework, such as the National Communications Authority Act, Data Protection Act, and Cybersecurity Act, among others,serve as pillars in safeguarding consumer privacy and security of the increasingly digitalized world.
Dr . Joe Anokye, revelead that in January this year, the NCA launched a five year strategic plan to guide the operations from 2024 through 2028.
The strategic plan is anchored by four(4) key pillars, the second of which deals with stakeholder coordination and engagement.
The Goal of this pillar, that is , pillar 2 is to promote a collaborative regulatory environment through targeted coordination with key stakeholders, especially consumers.
Touching on investment, Dr. Joe Anokye, said, the Authority has consciously invested in various regulatory and monitoring tools to ensure effectively discharge the mandate to the ultimate satisfaction of the end- user ,consumers.
“It was one of our key objectives to move away from being a paper- based regulator to being a regulator that is able to regulate and monitor such a technical industry with tools”.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu- Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, said, Government’s digitalisation agenda is anchored on the principles of accessibility, affordability and inculsivity and telecommunication is central to Ghana’s Digitalisation goals.
She disclosed a wide array of initiatives aimed at harnessing the power of technology to improve the lives of citizens and propel the nation forward.
Some of the initiatives includes; Rural Telephony that as of February 2024, the number of rural telephony sites which is aimed at promoting digital inclusion and reducing the digital gap, have increased from 78 at the end of 2016 to almost 1,500.
She also mentioned Ecowas Roaming in the quest to promote regional integration and seamless commutation across West Africa. In June 2023, Ghana and Ivory Coast implemented the Ecowas Free Roaming Initiative, Although, the initiative was adopted in 2016, Ghana’s agreement with Ivory Coast was the first of such agreements.
Other initiatives implemented are Common Platform launched as a monitoring mechanism to verify the actual revenue that accrue to service providers for the purpose of computing taxes due to government under Act 864 and revenues accruing from levies under Act 775 as amended by Act 786 of 2009.
Hon .Ursula Owusu- Ekuful, revelead that the Antifraud system has detected and blocked a total of 162,716 fraudulent SIMs, saving the Government an estimated revenue of USD 7,114,300.42.
She commended the National Communications Authority (NCA) for its commitment towards consumer protection and its efforts to promote a vibrant telecommunications sector in Ghana.
Some of the consumers asked questions regarding Mobile Money Fraud, “Money Doubling “, Sim Card Fraud and amongst others.
