NCA Urges Support to Overcome Barriers to Telecom Infrasturcture Expansion

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to address challenges affecting the expansion and reliability of telecom infrastructure across the country.

Speaking during a working visit by members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communications (PSCIC) at the NCA Tower, the Acting Director-General of the Authority, Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, said the NCA has strengthened its focus on consumer protection through a restructuring exercise that places greater emphasis on Consumer Affairs.

He noted that while the Authority continues to enforce service quality standards, some of the most persistent challenges stem from the inability of service providers to mount masts and towers in certain areas due to community resistance and site acquisition constraints.

Rev. Fianko appealed to Parliament to support efforts to address these barriers, stressing that such resistance undermines network expansion, service reliability, and overall connectivity. He also called for a stronger national appreciation of the importance of telecom infrastructure, describing it as essential to Ghana’s digital transformation.

As part of ongoing regulatory initiatives, Rev.Fianko also updated the Committee on the progress of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) project. When fully operational, the system will help curb fraud and the use of stolen mobile devices by enabling their identification and blocking across all networks.

The visit, led by the Committee Chairman, Dr. Abed Bandem, formed part of efforts to deepen parliamentary oversight and understanding of the NCA’s operations. Dr. Bandem commended the Authority’s work and underscored the Committee’s interest in service quality, consumer education, and infrastructure development, assuring continued parliamentary support for policies that promote efficient and reliable communication services.

The session concluded with an interactive meeting and a tour of the NCA’s operational facilities, as the Authority prepares to mark its 30th anniversary next year.

Read More