Data cost to reduce by end of year — Sam George

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations is working towards ensuring reduction in connectivity cost by the end of the year.

The sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George, said a committee that was set up in February, this year, had developed a roadmap that would lead to the drop in data prices.

Mr George said the committee, which included telecom companies, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and other sector players, worked for 13 days without receiving any payment from taxpayers.

“On the basis of that roadmap, I made the Director-General of the NCA and the regulator engage with stakeholders on what we could do in the immediate, medium term and the long term.

“So to citizens of this country, my promise is that by the end of this year, we will see data prices drop, and I remain committed to it. We will deliver on that. I trust the process,” he added.

The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, was speaking at an event to commemorate this year’s World Telecommunications and Information Society

Day at a ceremony in Accra last Monday on the theme: “Gender equality in digital transformation”.

He said an earlier statement he had made on working to reduce data costs had been misinterpreted on social media.

“I have been trending over the weekend on Twitter, not necessarily for my looks or my work, but whether orchestrated or otherwise, people think that data prices must be cheaper by the stroke of my pen,” Mr George said.

He expressed trust in the technical content of the regulator to work with the telecom companies to ensure the viability of businesses, and also ensure that customers get better value for what they pay for.

The minister said his outfit had also engaged the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to do an independent study of tariffs in the country and present a report in eight weeks.

Mr George said this would allow the ministry to align the report with that of the NCA report and take an informed policy decision.

“I will not give directives that will affect the industry. What I will do is to consult with industry and stakeholders and make decisions that protect investments in the country.

“I will also ensure that customers have the best quality of service and at prices they can afford,” he added.