Government to Address High Internet Costs

The Ghanaian government has announced plans to form a dedicated team to tackle the rising costs of internet and mobile data services. This move comes in response to public outcry over expensive data fees, which are seen as a barrier to economic progress and digital inclusiveness.

The team will include representatives from key government institutions, industry players, and consumer groups. The goal is to develop a roadmap for reducing internet data costs in Ghana. The team will include representatives from the Ministries of Communications, Digital Technology & Innovation, Energy, and Finance, along with regulatory bodies such as the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC). Other stakeholders, including the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), and the Association of Content Creators, will also be involved.

Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Sam George, stated that the team will work to find common ground that represents the needs of citizens, industry, and the government. The government aims to engage telecom operators to review pricing structures and address inefficiencies contributing to high costs. Policy interventions, including possible tax adjustments, will be explored to ease the financial burden on service providers and enable them to reduce charges for consumers.The announcement follows Minister George’s recent remarks during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee. He assured Ghanaians that making internet services more affordable would be a priority and that tangible changes could be expected before the end of the year.

John Mahama Revokes Recent Appointments and Recruitments

John Mahama, through his Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, has revoked all public service appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024. This decision was communicated via a confidential letter sent to all heads of government institutions. The directive is part of ongoing efforts by the John Mahama administration to ensure transparency and integrity within the government’s payroll system. Heads of institutions were required to submit detailed records of staff members added to their payrolls since December 7, 2024, by January 31, 2025.

Reason: The revocations were made on the grounds that the appointments and recruitments did not comply with established good governance practices and principles. The administration aims to maintain accountability in the management of public funds. Heads of government institutions are required to annul any such appointments or recruitments and submit a comprehensive report on the actions taken to the Office of the President by February 17, 2025