The National Communications Authority (NCA) has begun hosting African telecommunications regulators and development partners in Accra to shape a long-term national spectrum policy aimed at improving wireless connectivity and narrowing the continent’s digital divide.
The discussions form part of the African follow-up phase of the seventh cohort of the ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (IPRIS)-SPIDER Project, which began March 9 and is expected to conclude on March 12 at the Lancaster Hotel Accra. The meeting focuses on Ghana’s initiative to develop a National Spectrum Policy and a spectrum roadmap to guide allocation, licensing and use of frequencies over the next five to ten years.
The initiative aims to align Ghana’s spectrum management with global standards while strengthening planning within the regulator and supporting broader efforts to expand access to communication services. Opening the event, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, director-general of the NCA, said the discussions come at a critical point in Africa’s digital development.
“Across our continent, connectivity has evolved from a convenience into a fundamental enabler of development. It supports commerce, education, healthcare, governance, financial inclusion, and social interaction. Yet despite the remarkable expansion of mobile and broadband networks across Africa over the past decade, a persistent digital divide remains between urban and rural communities, between the connected and the underserved, and between those who can fully leverage digital technologies and those who cannot. As regulators, we stand at the centre of efforts to bridge this divide,” he said.
Fianko said the regulator’s role extends beyond licensing and compliance to managing spectrum resources, protecting consumers and enabling innovation across the telecommunications ecosystem.
“Our work therefore aligns closely with the mission of the IPRIS-SPIDER programme, which seeks to strengthen regulatory capacity and empower institutions to design and implement forward-looking, evidence-based regulatory interventions,” he added.
The NCA is reviewing its spectrum management approach under what it calls a “Change Initiative” to ensure Ghana’s regulatory framework keeps pace with emerging technologies, evolving market dynamics and rising demand for wireless connectivity. Speaking on behalf of the European Union delegation to Ghana, Gisela Spreitzhofer said expanding internet access has become central to economic competitiveness.
“Ensuring universal internet connectivity has become an imperative for most countries that are striving to compete in a globalised and digitalised world. This is also very important for the European Union, and our Global Gateway Programme defines digital transformation and investments in digital infrastructure.”
During the session, Edem Debrah of the NCA’s engineering division presented the framework for the spectrum policy and roadmap, outlining proposals for a forward-looking strategy to guide frequency management.
Participants include officials from regulators across Africa, including the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of The Gambia, Communications Authority of Kenya, Lesotho Communications Authority and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.
Regional regulatory bodies such as the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa, East African Communications Organisation and the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly are also participating. The meetings are scheduled to conclude on March 12.
