NCS boss denies newspaper allegations

Dr Nii Narku Quaynor, Chairman of the Network Computer Systems (NCS), an Internet Service Provider (ISP), on Tuesday denied allegations of conflict of interest and illegal financial gains in the operations of his business.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Dr Quaynor said on the contrary: "I wish to submit that in my role as the Internet and Software Commissioner of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Taskforce, I will humbly go about my work developing the strategic thinking that will help narrow the digital divide."

Referring specifically to the Ghanaian Chronicle, an Accra private daily newspaper, Dr Quaynor said a number of publications in the paper in the past few weeks were false.

The Chronicle had published among other things that authorities in the ICT sector had not regularised Dr Quaynor's "brazen conflict of interest situation.

It alleged that NCS had 800 telephone lines from Ghana Telecom (GT) and 60 lines from Westel, the second largest telecom operator in Ghana; however, Dr Quaynor said NCS had 600 lines from GT and four lines from Westel.

He said all the 600 dial-in telephone lines have been restricted to receive only for more than one year.

The allegation on the use of the 800 phone lines relates to purported Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) activities between GT and NCS for overseas calls by the use of local landline facilities through the ISPs.

The NCS Chairman explained that his outfit was interested in VOIP advantages in telephony within and outside of the country but had no relation with the operation of the system now.

VOIP cannot be facilitated on a one-way telephone facility, according to experts.

Dr Quaynor observed that there was the need for the National Communications Authority (NCA) to establish the required legal framework to enable telecom operators to reach an agreement with the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on VOIP services that would be of more benefit to rural communities.

He said NCS required about 2,000 lines to satisfy its more than 10,000 registered subscribers.

Dr Quaynor said he was a professional and, therefore, supported the Minister of Communications and Technology, the government and other African and international leaders in their efforts to curb the growing digital divide in Ghana.

He said he owned shares in G-COM, a telecommunications company among many others.

Dr Quaynor said he had ignored initial publications by the newspaper and had even contacted the National Media Commission to investigate some of the allegations.

The Editor of the newspaper had disregarded invitations to substantiate any of the allegations, Dr Quaynor said, and urged the newspaper and the media in general to rather support the government and the experts in the effort to bridge the widening digital divide.