The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has called on Ghana’s telecommunications companies to adjust their pricing to reflect the recent significant appreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar.
Speaking at a meeting with the CEOs of the country’s three major telcos, the Minister emphasized that while consumers suffered price hikes when the cedi depreciated, the telcos should now reciprocate as the local currency strengthens.
The Minister didn’t mince words when recalling the tough time Ghanaians faced during the cedi’s dramatic fall from 6 to 16 cedis against the dollar under the previous administration.
“When the cedi depreciated, the people bore the brunt,” he said, highlighting how skyrocketing costs hit consumers hard, especially since telecom services rely heavily on imported equipment and technology priced in dollars.
But now, thanks to what he described as “prudent management” by the current government, the dollar has dropped back to around 10.2 cedis.
“Part of that drop must reflect in the pricing or the value offering to the Ghanaian people,” he insisted, signaling a demand for fairness and transparency from the telecom operators.
Also, Sam George revealed that 40% of any fines levied against telcos for poor service will be directly returned to subscribers, not just as cash refunds, but as bonus data or free call time.
This innovative approach the Minister stressed that it will ensure that penalties don’t just punish companies but tangibly reward customers who have suffered.
“This is about making sure the public sees real benefits, not just regulatory fines that disappear into government coffers,” the Minister explained.
The Minister also set a strict 30-day deadline for telcos to finalize acceptance of newly allocated spectrum by June 30, 2025.
More importantly, he demanded visible progress by the end of the year.
“We know you can’t complete upgrades in three months, but the Ghanaian people must feel the impact of the spectrum rollout by December,” he emphasized.
This new spectrum is expected to be a game-changer, enabling faster, more reliable connections and ultimately driving down data prices, a promise the Ministry has reiterated will be fulfilled by the end of 2025.
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
