Ghana to liberalize telecom market

According to reports in the Ghanaian press, the government is to open up the telecom market to competition next February. Ghana Telecom and Western Telesystems Ltd are presently the only companies allowed to operate nationally in Ghana.
The Ghanaian Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku was quoted as saying the government aims to "promote competition and improve efficiency" with the move.
It is said consumers make a great many complaints about the present duopoly.
The remarks were made at a one-day forum organized by the Ghanaian-German Economic Association, together with the Ghana Export Promotion Council.