The National Communications Authority (NCA) has outlined an ambitious five-year strategic plan to bolster Ghana’s communications landscape.
Ghana's communications ecosystem includes three major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs): AirtelTigo (AT), Vodafone Ghana, and MTN Ghana. Additionally, the nation boasts three key tower infrastructure service providers—Helios Towers Ghana, Phoenix Towers Limited, and American Tower Company—as well as six submarine cable landing operators. Complementing these are 728 authorized FM radio stations and 170 television stations, underscoring the vibrancy of Ghana's broadcasting sector and the need for stabilized communication.
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Four Stabilization Pillars
The NCA’s five-year strategic plan, guided by its vision of becoming "a world-class communications regulator," is underpinned by four key pillars:
- Advancing Research and Innovation: To stay ahead of rapid technological advancements, the NCA aims to foster a culture of research and innovation across all divisions. Partnerships with institutions like Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) will bolster these efforts. Moreover, a regulatory impact assessment framework will be established to refine policies, an innovation sandbox will be used to test emerging technologies, a roadmap is in place to elevate Ghana’s ITU G5 status from ‘Advanced’ to ‘Leading,’ and the Automated Spectrum Management System (ASMS) will be expanded to streamline application and licensing processes.
- Enhancing Stakeholder Collaboration: Recognizing the importance of stakeholder engagement, the NCA plans to establish structured platforms for dialogue and feedback. A dedicated dashboard will monitor the authority's responsiveness, ensuring queries and concerns are addressed promptly.
- Empowering Human Resources: The NCA is committed to creating a work environment that promotes innovation and career growth. A Learning Academy will serve as a Center of Excellence (CoE) and will be established as a regional hub for industry training. The NCA will also ensure information symmetry across divisions and devolve authority to zonal offices.
- Optimizing Resources and Driving Growth: The NCA will focus on optimizing resources, fostering growth, and boosting revenue by revising regulations to support convergent services, enhance market competition, and promote innovations like Wi-Fi 6, Open RAN, and advanced satellite services (GSOs and NGSOs). Key initiatives include facilitating the 5G and 6G rollout; developing frameworks for digital audio broadcasting (DAB), 5G multicast, high efficiency video coding (HEVC), and HD terrestrial TV; and upgrading the Broadcasting Monitoring Centre with audio fingerprinting.
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Multi-Sectoral Alignment
The NCA’s Strategic Plan aligns with national, regional, and international development agendas, including Ghana’s Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CPESDP) 2021-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy, and the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) mission. It supports the deployment of digital platforms for efficient e-government services, fosters public-private partnerships, and emphasizes universal, affordable access to ICT networks for sustainable socio-economic development.
As Doreen Bogdan-Martin, former Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at ITU, stated, “ICTs are at the heart of efforts to attain the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and accessible, affordable ICT infrastructure is the pre-condition of every nation’s ongoing socio-economic development,” underscoring the critical role of ICT in achieving SDG 7, 9, and 12.
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