Ghana targets lower mobile data costs as a 23-member committee works to make internet access more affordable nationwide.
Ghana targets lower mobile data costs through a newly established 23-member committee tasked with developing strategies to make internet access more affordable for citizens.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George leads the committee which consists of representatives from Communication, Energy, Finance, National Communications Authority (NCA) and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
The committee must develop a complete plan within fourteen workdays to cut down data prices.
The minister stated specifically that the committee works to serve Ghanaians first while omitting protection of telecommunications companies.
The telecommunications sector operates as a business while he argued that the current pricing structures require adjustment.
Mobile network operators face steep operating expenses from the energy sector mainly because of electric power expenses which reach 80% of their total spending.
The cedi-dollar exchange rate together with restricted competition in the telecom industry intensifies the data costs problem.
Sustainable solutions require the committee to tackle these identified factors.
Multiple representatives from the industry sector show their backing of the initiative.
Telecoms CEO Ken Ashigbey from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications understood the complexity of the matter while vowing to receive support from telecom operators.
The National Union of Ghana Students president Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh endorsed student participation in discussions since high data costs negatively affect education.
Ghana stands to benefit from a unified collaboration between government officials and industry leaders and civil society organizations because it will create affordable and equitableView internet access.
