The National Communications Authority (NCA) has begun consultations to develop Ghana’s first National Emergency Telecommunications Plan, a framework aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response through timely, reliable communication.
The stakeholder engagements, which started on August 11, 2025, at the NCA Tower in Accra, brought together ministries, sector agencies, mobile network operators, and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations through the World Food Programme (WFP) and seeks to integrate early warning systems into Ghana’s emergency response strategy.
In his opening remarks, NCA Director General Rev. Ing. Edmund Fianko raised concern over Ghana’s limited prioritisation of emergency preparedness. “It is sad that we do not take our emergencies seriously. It is therefore imperative that prompt communication in response to changing weather conditions and other natural hazards be viewed as critical, as has been seen in recent times. The NCA pledges its full support to ensure that our communications infrastructure is ready during emergencies,” he said.
Rev. Fianko also disclosed plans for the NCA to establish an amateur radio station and other mechanisms to ensure effective communication during seismological and other disaster-related events. “We must find alternatives for communication when there is a disaster,” he added.
The roadmap for the plan will be anchored on four key pillars: Monitoring and Evaluation, Disaster Preparedness, Response and Relief, and Communication Systems. The NCA’s focus will be on strengthening infrastructure to ensure early warnings and critical information reach the public and relevant agencies without delay.
The programme, championed by the UN through the WFP, is designed to help Ghana deliver a more coordinated, effective response before, during, and after disasters.
