Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Communications Minister, has said the controversial US$178 million Kelni-GVG contract, irrespective of the numerous lawsuits, has received recognition from the Regional Director for Africa of the International Communications Union (ITU).
According to her, The Regional ITU Director, Andrew Rugege who paid a working visit to the National Communications Authority (NCA) on Tuesday July 17, to have a look at the monitoring platform, was elated at the progress of the platform.
The platform is aimed at providing an accurate method of electronically monitoring communication traffic volumes.
“The ITU Director for Africa went to visit the NCA and saw the network operations centre of the common monitoring platform and he thought that it could be something that the other African countries could also learn from.”
“We are sharing experiences and we want members to see how the common monitoring platform is expected to assist us in terms of revenue assurance, monitoring of mobile money as well as reducing fraud in telecommunications,” she added.
She reiterated the importance of the Kelni-GVG contract, to enhance data traffic monitoring in Ghana.
Owusu-Ekuful disclosed her Ministry is making further preparations to invite various members of the telecommunications industry to have a look at the monitoring system and how the platform works to ascertain whether they can take on the initiative.
“It is something that they are going to see and they would have a presentation and discussion on it to see if they would also consider adopting it because we all face similar challenges and we can utilise similar solutions to address those challenges.”
The Communications Minister made these known in an interview with Goldstreet Business at the commencement of the ITU Regional Development Forum 2018 which is being hosted by Ghana from July 18 to 20 at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The 3-day forum, will focus on five major initiatives which include; Building Digital Economies and Fostering Innovation in Africa, Promotion of Emerging Broadband Technologies and Building Trust and Security in the use of Telecommunications/Information and Communication Technology.
Other areas to be looked at are; Strengthening Human and Institutional Capacity Building, Management and Monitoring of the Radio Frequency Spectrum and Transition to Digital Broadcasting.
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah
