At the launch of the National Communications Authority’s 30th Anniversary, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George paid tribute to key figures who shaped Ghana’s telecommunications liberalization, while outlining a new reform agenda aimed at deepening digital inclusion and strengthening institutional governance.
He honoured the late Edward Salia, who served as Minister for Transport and Communications in the mid-1990s and played a critical role in Ghana’s telecom liberalization and the establishment of the NCA under Act 524 of 1996 during President Jerry John Rawlings’ administration.
He also paid emotional tribute to the late Edward Kojo Omane Boamah, Minister for Communications from 2013 to 2017, describing him as a mentor and acknowledging his tragic passing in a 2025 helicopter accident.
The Minister also referenced contributions from former Communications Ministers including Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, John Dramani Mahama (who served as Minister for Communications and later became President), Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Mike Oquaye, Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Haruna Iddrisu and Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
Mr. George announced that the Ministry is reviewing legislation to transition the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) into a new entity, the Digital Economy and Innovations Development Fund (DEIDF).
GIFEC was originally established to expand universal access to telecommunications services in underserved communities. The transition is expected to align the Fund more directly with Ghana’s digital economy goals, including innovation financing and digital inclusion.
The Minister highlighted the NCA’s broader contributions beyond regulation, including support for the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, assistance with Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) migration, financial support to institutions such as the Cyber Security Authority and support for the Ghana Domain Name Registry.
He noted that effective regulation involves enabling institutional growth, not merely enforcement.
He reiterated the government’s dedication to consumer protection through initiatives such as SIM Registration reforms, Mobile Number Portability and strengthened complaint resolution systems.
He disclosed that further updates on SIM registration would be announced following consultations with regulators and industry stakeholders.
The Minister confirmed that the government’s 1 million Coders Program will roll out in April 2025, aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with globally competitive digital skills. The initiative includes quotas for women and persons with disabilities, aligning with the government’s broader inclusion strategy.
Notably, he pointed out that the Ministry now has the highest number of female board chairs in its history, including leadership at NCA, National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Data Protection Commission, Ghana Post and Ghana Domain Name Registry.
Marking the NCA’s 30-year milestone, Mr. George declared: “The next chapter of Ghana’s national story will be written in the language of digital transformation.”
He emphasized that inclusivity must guide policy, ensuring that geography, income, gender, age, or disability do not limit access to digital opportunity.
He officially launched the NCA’s 30th Anniversary celebrations under the theme: “30 Years of Communications Regulation: Celebrating Impact and Advancing a More Inclusive Digital Future.”
