Ghana and Nigeria strengthen telecom regulatory ties through high-level collaboration

The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have taken significant steps to enhance regulatory cooperation during a bilateral meeting held at the NCA Tower in Accra. The engagement, part of a two-day benchmarking visit by an eight-member Nigerian delegation led by NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, focused on fostering cross-border regulatory alignment and knowledge sharing. 

Acting NCA Director General Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko highlighted the importance of Ghana-Nigeria partnership in advancing regional telecom integration, particularly in implementing ECOWAS Free Roaming. Ghana’s existing roaming agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin—along with ongoing tests with The Gambia—position it as a leader in sub-regional connectivity.

He also noted that Nigeria’s inclusion in this initiative is crucial given the high volume of cross-border communications and trade between the two nations. 

Dr. Maida praised Ghana’s regulatory advancements, including its market dominance framework and real-time monitoring systems, while expressing Nigeria’s commitment to learning from these experiences. “Our collaboration extends beyond policy—it’s about building a unified approach to telecom regulation in West Africa,” he stated. 

The Nigerian delegation toured the NCA’s operational facilities, including its Broadcast Monitoring Centre and Network Monitoring System, to observe Ghana’s technical capacity in enforcing compliance and ensuring service quality.

Dr. Maida also invited Ghana to join the emerging African chapter of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), underscoring the value of Ghana’s leadership in shaping continental telecom policies. 

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to deepen cooperation on ECOWAS Roaming, cross-border market monitoring, and capacity-building initiatives, reinforcing both nations’ roles as drivers of regional digital integration. 

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye