The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced plans to transition 16,000 government services to the Ghana.gov platform. This initiative aims to modernise public service delivery. The minister explained that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of the platform to bring government services closer to ordinary citizens and businesses.
“This upgraded portal will enhance transparency, convenience, and reliability in accessing government services. We intend to put 16,000 government services on that platform,” he stated. Mr George made this known last Thursday during a press briefing to update the public on key initiatives and developments within the sector in the second quarter. Currently, the online portal supports about 1,500 to 2,000 services, including payments, permits, registrations and licences, making it a one-stop digital hub for accessing public services in the country.
Mr. George, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, announced that the redesigned website will be launched in the fourth quarter following a public tender. The new site will offer significantly faster access, full integration with the Ghana Card, and an intuitive, streamlined interface designed for both individuals and businesses. This redesign aligns with the government’s digital transformation initiatives and aims to enhance interactions between citizens and state agencies by reducing bureaucracy and improving service delivery turnaround times.
TikTok, DStv
Mr George also addressed two major issues affecting digital content and consumer rights. He condemned the rise of sexually explicit material on TikTok, describing it as “completely unacceptable” and “against Ghanaian culture.” He disclosed that the government had engaged TikTok’s West Africa team on June 26 and requested the implementation of in-country content moderation by locally trained teams. He also proposed a local content governance framework and tasked the Cybersecurity Authority (CSA) to monitor and remove offensive content, especially to protect minors.
In a related development, the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker assured the public that DStv subscription prices would be reduced following a crucial meeting with MultiChoice Ghana and their South African leadership scheduled for Friday, July 4. He said the talks were aimed at making pricing more responsive to the country’s and citizens’ economic conditions. “I make you one promise, I won’t leave tomorrow’s meeting without securing a drop in the price of DStv,” he pledged.
Radio stations
Touching on the ongoing enforcement action against non-compliant radio stations, Mr George revealed that only 18 out of the 62 stations shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA) had so far contacted the regulator to begin rectifying their violations. These stations have less than 10 days left in the 30-day moratorium granted by the President as a show of leniency for infractions, including the failure to renew licences, lack of tax clearance certificates, and non-compliance with standards.
The minister stressed that the enforcement was not politically motivated but aimed at sanitising the broadcasting space. He announced that the 18 stations that had shown good faith would be granted a further 30-day extension to complete the compliance process, but warned that no mercy would be shown to those who failed to act. He urged the media to meet legal obligations, stressing that “with much power comes responsibility
By: Dickson Worlanyo Dotse
