Ghana loses number one position in internet connectivity

Ghana loses number one spot in internet connectivity

Ghana has lost its number one position in internet connectivity in the sub-region.
A research report commissioned by the Ghana Internet Services Providers Association (GISPA) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dubbed ‘Communication Policy and Research/Advocacy Report’ places Ghana at the third position.
The survey which was carried out from January, 2006 to March 2008 showed that the country was trailing behind Nigeria and Senegal.
Despite being the first country to be issued an Internet Service Providers (ISPs) license in the sub-region (West Africa), the report indicated that Ghana’s internet connectivity was gradually fading out, a situation which experts in the industry have called for a review of policies guiding Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“This development needs to be viewed with concern since it is an indication of the existence of constraints to access to communications services in Ghana”, said Mr. Gilbert Adenuga, who presented the research report to report to a group of journalists in Accra.
According to the report, the country’s growth in ICT penetration is fifty percent behind Nigeria but is closer to that of Senegal.
The report identified the ICT industry’s constraints as lack of consistent and sustained effort in the implementation of the national ICT strategy arising from impediments relation to the ICT policy framework, regulatory environment, inadequate communications infrastructure, limited available local content as well as relatively high cost of access to and low quality of communications services.
In the area of ICT policy framework, the report concluded that the industry’s failure were partly due to its unclear role for the private sector regarding Information Technology (IT) policy implementation, Government of Ghana’s (GoG) involvement in private sector activities resulting in ownership of Ghana Telecom (GT) and Western Telecommunications (Westel) and lack of ICT policy unit at the Ministry of Communications.
On regulatory environment, the report noted that the ICT industry was seriously affected because of frequent change of Ministers (four) at the Ministry of Communications within six years and the long delay in appointing a Board and Director General for the National Communications Authority (NCA). Another issue the report touched on was the continuous delay in the issuance of operator licenses coupled with delays in responding to ISP complaints and Ghana Telecom and Westel shareholder disagreements.
Touching on the industry’s failure in communication infrastructure, the report revealed that it was partly due to inadequate resources for fixed network expansion and limited capacity for relatively cheaper DSL broadband internet connectivity.
The report also touched on high cost of communication services especially access to internet, which it said was having negative impact on penetration.
“High cost due to expensive bandwidth, foreign sourcing of supplies and professional support for internet service as well as dependence on foreign content is affecting internet penetration in the country”, stated the report.
It further revealed that Ghana was charging exorbitant fees on internet tariffs as compared to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.
It however cautioned the country to be up and doing if it wanted to retain its lost glory by formulating proper policies that would guide ICT penetration, availability of quality telecommunications infrastructure facilitating access to low cost and reliable telecommunications services including fixed and mobile telephony and the internet coupled with availability of human capital well equipped with ICT skills.