EMIs, telcos Chambers engage NDC flagbearer on the Telecoms Manifesto
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana have issued a call for increased attention and support for the telecommunications industry and the digital payments ecosystem.
This call came during a strategic engagement session held on Monday, June 3, 2024, at the Chambers’ secretariat in Accra with the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, and his team.
The session brought together top leadership from both Chambers and the NDC.
The GCT was represented by its Chairman and CEO of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai; Acting CEO of AT, Leo Skarlatos; CEO of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett; Managing Director of Helios Towers Ghana, Angelo Govina; and Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of both Chambers.
The EMIs Chamber of Ghana was led by founding chairman Philip Amoateng, Director of Telecel Cash, Acting Managing Director of AT Money, Mohammed Alhassan, CEO of Mobile Money Limited, Shaibu Haruna, and Operations Lead at G-Money, Edem Kpodo, among others.
Former President John Dramani Mahama was accompanied by the Honourable Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, and other NDC team members.
During the two-hour meeting, key issues and challenges impacting the telecommunications and digital payments sectors were discussed.
For the GCT, the conversation focused on creating a conducive policy and regulatory environment, establishing an enabling tax regime, protecting industry infrastructure, reducing the cost and ease of doing business, addressing indebtedness to the industry, and promoting sustainable local content.
The EMIs Chamber of Ghana raised concerns about the repeal of the E-Levy law, facilitating cross-border payments, driving digital payments for People to Government (P2G) and merchant payments, creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment, and reducing the cost and ease of access to the Ghana card database.
The engagement is part of the two Chambers’ broader effort to present their key issues to all political parties ahead of the December 7 elections.
The aim is for these issues to be included in party manifestos and addressed by the incoming government.
Flagbearer Mahama, with a rich history of involvement in the telecommunications sector as Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President, and President, assured the Chambers that their concerns would be addressed.
He emphasized his commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to resolve the issues outlined in the Telecoms Manifesto and during the meeting.
As part of their ongoing efforts, the two Chambers plan to meet with the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on June 7, 2024.
This meeting is part of their strategy to engage with all parties represented in parliament, ensuring that the critical needs of the telecommunications and digital payments sectors are recognized and supported by policymakers.
The proactive stance of the GCT and the EMIs Chamber highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between industry stakeholders and political leaders to foster a thriving telecommunications and digital payments ecosystem in Ghana.
