The National Communications
Authority (NCA) and the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques
et de la Poste (ARCEP) of Benin, have signed a bilateral roaming service
agreement in Cotonou, Benin.
The agreement is for the
implementation of the regulation on roaming on mobile communications networks
within the ECOWAS region and it is intended for the respective Mobile Network
Operators in Ghana and Benin to collaborate on the effective implementation of
the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative.
Welcoming the delegation from Ghana,
the Executive Secretary of ARCEP, Dr. Hervé Coovi Guedegbe, indicated Benin’s
commitment to collaborate with the NCA and other Member States to facilitate a
smooth implementation of the ECOWAS Free Roaming services in the sub-region. He
further expressed satisfaction for the progress made by NCA and ARCEP to pilot
the service toward its full implementation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the
Chairman of the Board of ARCEP, Mr. Flavien Bachabi, also commended Ghana and
Benin for the significant progress made towards the implementation of the
ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative and urged other ECOWAS members to speed up
efforts in ensuring the realisation of the initiative proposed by the ECOWAS
Ministers of Telecommunications, ICT, Digitalisation and Posts during their
meeting in Niger in 2016.
Speaking on behalf of the NCA, the
Deputy Director General for Technical Operations, Prof. Ezer Osei
Yeboah-Boateng, said the NCA is committed to partnering with ARCEP to leverage
telecommunications as a tool for regional integration and economic growth. He
added that Ghana is optimistic that the implementation of the proposed
bilateral agreement would facilitate seamless cross-border communication for
consumers in Ghana and Benin, thereby promoting business, tourism, and social
ties at reduced costs.
Prof. Yeboah-Boateng also said, in
2019, the Government of Ghana amended the Electronic Communications Act, 2008
(Act 775) to exempt incoming intracommunity roaming traffic within the ECOWAS
region from the minimum rate of USD$0.19 for incoming electronic communication
traffic to demonstrate the country’s commitment towards the ECOWAS “Free”
Roaming Initiative within the ECOWAS Sub-region.
In the coming weeks, the MNOs from
both countries will continue to work collaboratively to address all outstanding
issues to allow for activation and testing of the agreed roaming services in
both countries prior to the launch of the service in July 2024 in Accra.
