Sam George blames NCA over internet blackout
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful speaking at Parliament
A Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee of Parliament, Sam George, has criticised the National Communications Authority (NCA) for its failure to restore Ghana’s internet services following a nationwide blackout caused by undersea cable cuts.
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Ghana and several other West African nations encountered disruptions in internet connectivity. Sam George attributed Ghana’s prolonged internet outage to insufficient regulatory oversight by the NCA (National Communications Authority).
He pointed out that while other affected countries had largely recovered from the cable cuts, Ghana continued to face challenges due to the NCA’s failure in regulatory enforcement.
“I hold the view that we are where we are simply because the regulator that works under the Minister, failed to do their job. The responsibility rests with the regulator. This is not about another country and force majeure. A regulator doing its job would have put in place the mechanisms and the readiness that would have allowed us to be prepared for this issue,” he stated.
Sam George, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, underscored the significance of effective regulatory measures in managing crises of this nature. He cited Cote d’Ivoire as a prime example, where the regulator promptly implemented strategies to facilitate recovery.
“The cable cut happened off the coast of Cote D’Iviore. Cote D’Iviore was the most impacted country on Thursday. As we speak today, Cote D’Iviore’s recovery is ahead of Ghana simply because their regulator had put in place the right mechanisms. In the case of AirtelTigo (AT), if you ask what Cote D’Iviore is doing, they are using the Multi Operator Vectoring (MOV) operator cable and have immediately allowed all the other operators to piggyback on MOV”, he stated.
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful revealed plans to license satellite internet providers as part of efforts to reduce Ghana’s reliance on undersea cables for internet connectivity.
She outlined the process for repairing the damaged undersea cables, stating that cable providers require permits from authorities in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal before initiating repairs.
The repair process, she noted, involved retrieving the damaged cables from the seabed, splicing them aboard ships, and conducting tests to ensure proper functioning before reinstalling them.
“The initial remote investigations by all affected cable providers have given them the approximate locations where the cables have been damaged. To commence the repairs, these cable providers need permit from the authority in Cote D’Iviore and Senegal,” Mrs Owusu-Ekuful explained.
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