ISPs in Tamale call for NCA to review licence fees
Jun 08 2004, Ghana [GH]
Internet Service Provides (ISPs) in Tamale, in the northern region of Ghana, has called on the National Communication Authority (NCA) to review its ISP’s license regime.
The ISP’s claim that the thirty thousand US Dollars ($30,000) license fee required by the NCA is a big impediment in the strife for Universal Access in Ghana.
The ISP’s say the huge fees is a major reason for the slow pace of Internet growth in northern Ghana, as not many businesses would like to invest in Internet services in the North where the market is relatively small.
The ISP’s made the appeal during a Technical Update Seminar organised by the International Institute of Communication and Development, IICD, Centre for Information Technology Research and Development (CITRED) and Ghana information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS). The aim of the seminar was to share information with the residents of the Northern region on connectivity options available in the world today and how best as a community they can develop and promote the region into the knowledge based economy using Information and Communication Technology tools.
Ernest Kofie, Director of GrasRut, a cybercafé and ISP operator in Tamale, said considering the high cost of Internet usage to most of the people of Tamale, his ISP has adopted a community approach to the deployment of Internet in Tamale. He was therefore very agitated by the requirement of NCA to pay $30,000 license fees as paid by all ISPs in Ghana. He pleaded to the NCA to have some waivers for ISP’s who decide to operate outside of Accra.
Jonnie Akakpo of CITRED introduced new technologies to the participants and said it was important that the government take the new ICT4AD policy serious and implement its recommendations to the letter.
Denise Clarke of IICD introduced the Bgan Mobile IP Satellite Technology as one of the possible connectivity options for rural areas. She was of the view that such connectivity tools were relatively cheaper and affordable for people in rural areas to also have access to the benefits of Internet
Kofi Mangesi of GINKS encouraged the community to continue to dialogue on how best they can influence policy in the area of connectivity.
The community members who took part in the seminar were grateful for the opportunity to hear the many issues surrounding the deployment of Internet in the Northern region and were keenly interested in making every effort to enjoy fully the benefits of ICTs.