Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has voiced strong disapproval of the former administration’s decision to issue a licence to global satellite internet provider StarLink without ensuring the company has a physical presence in Ghana. In an interview on TV3’s New Day on Friday, April 11, the Minister expressed concern over the regulatory and operational implications of allowing a foreign tech company to function without a local office.
“I have asked the regulator (National Communications Authority, NCA) to inform the company (StarLink) that they need to have an office in Accra,” he stated. Sam George questioned the logic behind the previous government’s move, describing it as “poorly thought through.” “They need to have an office here. You can’t operate in our country and not have a presence here,” he said.
“If there is a problem involving a client of StarLink, and the regulator needs to talk to StarLink, we need to send an email to someone sitting somewhere in the US, and it will take them about three weeks for them to come down.” The Minister emphasized that Ghana is not alone in its concerns, revealing that several ICT ministers across the sub-region have raised similar issues. It is a cause of concern not just here in Ghana. Across the sub-region, most of the ICT ministers are worried about it, and we are going to be taking collective action, ” he added.
He concluded by stressing the need for accountability and accessibility when foreign companies operate in critical sectors like telecommunications. “They must show physical presence in our country,” he insisted.
By: Evans Effah
