Mr. Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has inaugurated a 23-member Inter-Agency Data Pricing Committee in Accra. The committee comprises representatives from various stakeholders in the digital sector and is tasked with developing a roadmap to reduce the cost of data. The committee is expected to finalize its report and submit it to the Minister by March 6, 2025.
The initiative aims to assess prevailing pricing models and propose recommendations for competitive and affordable data services that drive digital inclusion, economic growth, and national development. The Minister said the establishment of the Committee underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency in data pricing mechanisms and bridging the digital divide.
“The individuals involved in this industry are not Chancellors; they are businessmen. However, I want to emphasize that my primary loyalty is to the Ghanaian people, above all other considerations. With that in mind, we will establish a technical committee to discuss data pricing. The goal of this committee is not to explain why data is currently priced as it is.”
He said he was aware that in January 2024, one of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) wrote to the National Communication Authority proposing a 10 per cent drop. “The ministry at the time declined a response to the regulator, and so literally for one year, that offer of a 10 per cent reduction from that MNO and a corresponding 11 per cent increase in value offerings has been pending,” he said.
Mr George said the government was committed to ensuring value for money, adding that “the best value and offering for the Ghanaian people is our primary goal.” He said, “Instead of us having one proposal from one MNO on one bundle offering, I want a holistic review of all the bundle offerings across all the networks.”
Mr George said there were many young Ghanaians today who, if given cheaper, affordable data, would help them work and take gig jobs outside the shores of the country, depending on data. “This is a call to national service, a call to national duty, both for the Committee members and as players in the industry,” he said. Mr Ken Ashigbey, the Chef Executive, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, welcomed the initiative and indicated that it was the best way to ensure value for money.
Mr. Ashigbey called for a concerted effort to address the issue of data pricing, emphasizing that the factors associated with data costs are multifaceted. He pledged to work diligently to meet the committee’s terms of reference, particularly its deadline. Mr. Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, President of the National Union of Ghana Students, commended the Minister for including the student union in the committee. He noted that many students have expressed concerns about the cost of data, especially during online sessions and while conducting research, and he is confident in their ability to advocate for fair data pricing for all.
Source: GNA
