NCA at 30: A Sharper Promise On Quality As Ghana Marks World Telecom Day
NCA at 30: A Sharper Promise On Quality As Ghana Marks World Telecom Day
Accra, 18th May, 2026: The National Communications Authority (NCA) commemorated the 2026 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) with an industry stakeholder forum held at the NCA Tower.
The localised theme, “NCA at 30: Stakeholder Reflections on Regulation, Innovation and the Future of Ghana’s Communications Industry,” which resonated with the global WTISD theme, “Digital Lifelines: Strengthening Resilience in a Connected World,” provided stakeholders with the opportunity to reflect on the Authority’s journey over the past three decades, assess the role of regulation in shaping the sector’s development, highlight their contributions, and share perspectives on the future of Ghana’s communications industry.
Director-General of the NCA, Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, welcoming participants
Ms. Mavis Ampah, Board Chairperson of the NCA, delivering the Message from
the ITU Secretary- General
Delivering his remarks and setting the tone for reflection and future prospects, the Director-General of the NCA, Rev. Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko, acknowledged the significant strides Ghana has made within the communications sector over the years, highlighting the country’s internet penetration rate, which is nearing 70 percent, as an indication of the growing digital inclusion and expanding access to connectivity across the country.
Despite this progress, he noted that the Authority remains committed to addressing consumer concerns, particularly in the area of call quality and network performance. He assured stakeholders that the NCA’s response will be visible and impactful through the introduction of tighter Quality of Service (QoS) benchmarks, the publication of network-by-network performance data to promote transparency and enable consumers to assess service delivery across operators, as well as enforcement measures where necessary.
“The service Ghanaians pay for must be the service they receive and closing the coverage gap in our peri-urban and rural communities is the single most important task before this sector today” he said.
He further stated that work cannot fall on regulators and operators alone and asked communities to welcome telecom towers in their neighbourhoods, urged road contractors, utilities and public agencies to coordinate under a “Dig Once” discipline, and called on security agencies to treat vandalism of telecom equipment as the serious offence it is.
UNESCO Resident Coordinator, Mr. Edmond Moukala, speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary-General
The stakeholder community responded in kind, offering reflections on the sector’s progress while drawing attention to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Ms. Sylvia Owusu Ankomah, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, traced Ghana’s evolution from a voice-driven communications market to an increasingly digital ecosystem, crediting “effective, data-driven and forward-looking regulation” for much of the sector’s growth and transformation.
The Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) President, Mr. Michael Nfodzo, spoke to the broader growth of Ghana’s internet ecosystem, while ASCOG Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, highlighted the country’s submarine cable infrastructure, noting the critical role of the submarine cable systems that land on Ghana’s shores and carry roughly 99% of the country’s international data traffic.
On the broadcasting front, GIBA President, Mr. Abdulai Awudu, and Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Professor Amin Alhassan, brought attention to structural issues within the industry, including concerns around media concentration, ownership opacity, ethical standards, and the evolving identity of the state broadcaster. Bringing the consumer perspective into the discussion, Appiah Kusi Adomako, Esq., Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, argued that a properly competitive market remains the surest route to achieving outcomes that benefit all stakeholders.
Messages from the global community also reinforced the significance of resilient digital infrastructure in today’s interconnected world. Delivering remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the Board Chairperson of the NCA, Ms. Mavis Ampah, noted that telecommunications had become as essential as roads and electricity. “That’s why resilience must be built into digital infrastructure and it must be built collectively” she said.
A message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, delivered by the UNESCO Resident Coordinator, Mr. Edmond Moukala, encouraged Ghana to continue advancing digital inclusion “until this digital lifeline extends to the last mile.”
The event concluded with a symbolic flag-raising ceremony at the forecourt of the NCA Tower, led by the Ghana Armed Forces and joined by Ms. Mavis Ampah, Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, the Deputy Director-General for Managerial Operations, Mrs. Etta Mosore, and Mr. Edmond Moukala.
A photo collage of the flag-raising ceremony
A group photo of Industry Stakeholders, Representatives of Bodies, and Leadership and Staff of the NCA
