The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has assured stakeholders in the telecom sector of his commitment to resolving key industry challenges and elevating the sector to greater heights.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the Management of Afriwave Telecom on Friday, April 11, 2025, the Minister acknowledged the company's contributions to the telecom ecosystem and promised to engage the National Communications Authority (NCA) to address concerns raised during the meeting.

He also emphasised that all telecom licenses due for renewal would be subject to strict scrutiny to ensure compliance and protect national interests.

“We are committed to building a robust telecom industry that works for all Ghanaians. Every license renewal will be properly evaluated before approval,” the Minister stated.

The leadership of Afriwave Telecom, led by Board Chairman David Poku, on April 11, 2025 paid the courtesy call to congratulate the Minister on his recent appointment by President John Dramani Mahama and to discuss pressing matters affecting the Interconnect Clearinghouse (ICH) operations.

Mr. Poku highlighted the positive impact of the ICH since its inception, noting that it had successfully eliminated settlement disputes between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and improved transparency in interconnect traffic management.

He noted that MNOs now confidently issue invoices based on reconciled traffic data provided by the ICH.

He further shared that national interconnect traffic, which had declined to an average of 800 million in 2016, had increased to 930 million in the first quarter of 2025, with projections of continued growth.

However, he outlined key challenges, including outstanding debts owed by some MNOs for ICH services, and the financial strain resulting from ICH service charges being pegged in Ghana cedis while most service provider contracts are billed in US dollars.

“The mismatch between currency denominations, especially in times of depreciation, significantly affects our financial viability,” Poku stated.

He called on the Minister to intervene and assist in addressing these bottlenecks to ensure Afriwave Telecom remains strong as a wholly Ghanaian-owned company.

Poku also pledged the company’s full support for the Minister’s vision and leadership.

In closing, the Minister reassured Afriwave of the government’s strategic commitment to nurturing the telecom sector and reiterated his readiness to work with stakeholders to enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in the industry.

MA