Communications Minister Sam Nartey George has announced that Ghanaians will soon benefit from cheaper and enhanced data bundles on five designated national holidays each year, following a successful agreement reached with telecommunication companies (telcos).
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram shared details of the agreement negotiated with the CEOs of various telcos, outlining a broader strategy aimed at making data services more affordable for all Ghanaians.
“I initially approached the CEOs with the idea of extending the Independence Day data relief to all 18 national holidays in the country,” he explained. “However, they expressed concerns that such a move would severely impact their businesses.”
Following constructive negotiations, a compromise was reached. “We have agreed on five key national holidays for this special data bundle initiative,” he disclosed.
“These holidays are Independence Day, May Day, Republic Day, Founders’ Day, and Farmers’ Day. On each of these five days, Ghanaians can look forward to accessing specialized data bundles at significantly cheaper rates.”
This initiative builds upon the successful data relief offered on Independence Day, which provided users with enhanced data packages. “The enhanced bundles that were available on Independence Day will now be replicated on these five additional national holidays,” Mr. George confirmed.
The Minister emphasized that this agreement is not the final step in the government’s efforts to reduce data costs. He revealed that a committee established to address this issue has already submitted a comprehensive roadmap.
“Contrary to some reports, I did not promise an immediate drop in data prices within 14 days. What I stated was that I would secure a roadmap within that timeframe,” he clarified. “And I am pleased to say that the committee delivered this roadmap within 13 days.”
The submitted roadmap includes a combination of short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions aimed at making data more affordable.
“In the short term, we recognize that we are not in a position to implement across-the-board price reductions,” he admitted. “Therefore, we have identified specific demographic groups to target with initial interventions.”
The Ministry, in collaboration with the relevant regulatory body, is currently in the process of building databases to accurately target these identified groups.
“Once we have compiled the necessary data sets of the individuals we are aiming to reach, a formal announcement detailing these targeted interventions will be made,” he said. “I held a meeting with the key stakeholders today who are responsible for providing this crucial data.”
Mr. George highlighted the full support received from the telco industry for this initiative. “I have met with the CEOs of all three major telecommunication companies, and they have all agreed on the urgent need to address the issue of data prices.”
Looking beyond these immediate plans, the Minister identified taxation and the cost of power as significant structural barriers contributing to high data prices. “Taxation plays a substantial role in the overall cost,” he noted. “Similarly, the cost of power consumed by telecommunication infrastructure across Ghana is a major factor.”
He announced that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will be engaged to establish a specific telecom tariff, similar to the preferential rates currently offered to mining companies for bulk power consumption.
“Mining companies benefit from bulk power at a preferential rate. Telecom companies, despite their extensive network of towers consuming significant amounts of power across the country, do not receive similar consideration. This situation must change,” he asserted.
Through this multi-faceted approach, the Minister expressed his confidence that meaningful and sustainable reform in data pricing can be achieved, ultimately benefiting Ghanaians in Kumasi and across the nation.
“This is not merely a series of discussions; we are actively implementing concrete steps,” he affirmed.
Mr. George also conveyed his sincere appreciation to the various industry players for their cooperation.
“I must express my sincere gratitude to the three telecommunication companies. They have demonstrated a commendable commitment to working with the government on this important issue,” he concluded, making it clear that while immediate, drastic changes may not be feasible, Ghanaians can anticipate tangible improvements in data affordability in the near future.
