The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana is the regulatory body that oversees the communications sector in the country. The NCA is responsible for ensuring fair competition, quality services, consumer protection and national security in the industry. NCA also promotes the development of ICT infrastructure and services to support Ghana’s digital transformation.
In January 2024, the NCA launched its new five-year strategic plan for 2024-2028, codenamed “Moving from good to great”. The plan aims to position the NCA as a world-class regulator that stimulates growth, innovation and inclusion in the communications sector. Plan aligned with the government’s Coordinated Economic and Social Development Policy Program (CPESDP) as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The plan outlines six strategic objectives for the NCA, which are:
- To ensure the effective management and use of spectrum resources
- To promote a competitive and innovative communications market
- To enhance consumer protection and empowerment
- To enhance cyber security and resilience
- To build a strong regulatory framework and governance system
- To improve organizational performance and stakeholder engagement
The plan also identifies key performance indicators (KPIs), objectives and initiatives for each objective, as well as risks and challenges that may affect their implementation. Some of the notable initiatives include:
- Development of a national roadmap and implementation of automated spectrum management systems
- Conduct market review and implement significant market power (SMP) regulations.
- Establish a consumer complaint resolution mechanism and a do not text or call registry
- Develop a national cyber security strategy and establish a cyber security authority
- Review and update existing laws and regulations to reflect emerging technologies and trends
- Implement a digital transformation program and enhance staff capability and well-being
The NCA’s five-year strategic plan is expected to have a positive impact on the communications sector and the economy as a whole. It will enable the efficient allocation and use of spectrum resources, which are essential for the development of advanced technologies such as 5G and 6G. It will also promote a competitive and innovative communications market that offers diverse and affordable services to consumers and businesses.
Challenges and criticism
However, it is not clear how the NCA will resolve potential conflicts of interest or trade-offs between these roles, especially in cases where regulation may inhibit innovation or vice versa. For example, how will the NCA ensure that its spectrum management policies are fair and efficient, while also encouraging the development of new technologies and services that may require more spectrum resources? How will the NCA protect consumers from unfair or harmful practices by operators or service providers, while respecting their autonomy and choices in the digital marketplace? How will the ECA balance its own mandate and vision with the interests and expectations of other stakeholders, such as Ministry of Communications and Digitization, National Informatics Agency, Data Protection Commissionand others?
Another challenge is how the NCA will measure and monitor its progress and performance in achieving its strategic goals. The plan provides a list of key performance indicators (KPIs) for each strategic pillar, but does not specify how these indicators will be defined, collected, analyzed and reported.
For example, how will the NCA measure its regulatory excellence in terms of quality, timeliness, transparency and accountability? How will the NCA assess its consumer protection efforts in terms of awareness, satisfaction, complaint resolution and redress? How will the NCA assess its digital inclusion initiatives in terms of access, affordability, use and skills? How will NCA quantify its innovation results in terms of new products, services, processes and business models? Furthermore, how will the NCA ensure that its KPIs are aligned with the national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals?
A third challenge is how the EAA will adapt to the changing and uncertain environment of the communications sector. The plan recognizes that the industry is dynamic and rapidly evolving, driven by technological developments, market trends, consumer preferences and societal needs. The plan also recognizes that the sector faces various risks and threats, such as cyber-attacks, natural disasters, pandemics and political instability.
However, it is not clear how the NCA will anticipate and respond to these changes and challenges in a proactive and flexible manner. For example, how will the NCA update its regulatory framework and tools to keep pace with emerging technologies and services such as 5G, artificial intelligence, blockchain and the internet of things? How will the NCA anticipate and mitigate potential risks and threats to the security, resilience and integrity of communications infrastructure and services? How will the EAA deal with unexpected events or crises that may disrupt or affect its operations or functions?
In conclusion, the NCA’s five-year strategic plan is a welcome step towards strengthening its role and importance in the communications sector in Ghana. However, it also requires further clarification and elaboration on how it will address some of the key questions and challenges that may arise in its implementation. The EAA should engage in ongoing dialogue and consultation with its stakeholders to improve its plan and ensure its alignment with their needs and expectations. The NCA should also establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system to monitor its progress and performance against performance indicators and adjust its plan accordingly.
Finally, the ESA should adopt a learning-oriented approach to cope with the changing and uncertain environment of the communications sector.
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