NCA Hosts Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) on a Benchmark Visit

26^th March 2024: The National Communications Authority (NCA), on Monday, 25^th March, 2024, hosted a three-member delegation from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) on a three-day benchmark visit at the NCA Tower.

Led by Mr. Daud Suleman, the Director General of MACRA, the three-day benchmark visit seeks to explore the capabilities of the NCA’s Broadcasting Monitoring Centre (BMC) and understand how this cutting-edge technology can enhance informed decision-making and contribute value to MACRA’s broadcasting regulatory framework.

Ms. Olivia Okailey Quartey, Deputy Director General for
Managerial Operations (DDG-MO) welcoming the delegation

Welcoming the delegation, Ms. Olivia Okailey Quartey, Deputy Director General for Managerial Operations (DDG-MO) at the NCA, emphasised the NCA’s contribution to knowledge sharing in the communications industry and expressed the NCA’s pleasure to be a part of MACRA’s success in many facets of this dynamic field.

She stated that with the establishment of the BMC, the NCA, together with the National Media Commission (NMC), has worked assiduously to reduce unwholesome and egregious content in the broadcasting space.

Director General for MACRA, Mr. Daud Suleman giving his remarks

Director General for MACRA, Mr. Daud Suleman, expressed gratitude on behalf of the delegation for the NCA’s ongoing collaboration and support over the years. He recounted that the NCA had provided expertise in the technicalities of the BMC early this year when another delegation from Malawi visited. He indicated that the BMC is very critical to Malawi as it will help in quality content delivery, consumer protection, reduce market exploitation, and add value to the management of the state media space. He stated that the lack of the BMC has amounted to a lack of regulatory power in undertaking the mandate of MACRA; hence, its set-up will add value to their regulatory framework.

The delegation from MACRA

The three-member high delegation from MACRA consists of the Director General of MACRA, Mr. Daud Suleman, the Board Chair, Mr. Isaac Songea, and the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations, Mr. Peter Simbani.

As part of their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to tour some of the NCA’s regulatory infrastructure, including the Communications Monitoring Centre (CMC), NCA-CERT, and the Type Approval Conformance Laboratories.

A group photograph of the delegation with the Director General of
the NCA, Dr. Joe Anokye