Prepared by: Maxwell Akafa & Joseph Nii Adjin Codjoe
National Communications Authority

Introduction

The National Communications Authority of Ghana has under its umbrella as a Regulator and monitor various Service Providers.

Internet Service Providers

The Internet Population in Ghana has seen a lot of growth from a slow start to a very fast and appreciating number. Within the last four years Ghana can boast of twenty ISPs and out this number five are very active namely;

• · NCS
• · Africa on line
• · Internet Ghana
• · K. Compu Services Ltd.

Due to the high operating cost, patronage of these services are not on the high side. This is because, the very basic components needed to be hooked on to the internet are not available to all.

Statistics show that even thou this is the case the Internet Services providers have taken bold steps to frog leap and have ventured into other areas like E?Commerce, E?business etc and this has boosted their sales and services and some government institutions.

As a result, NCS and Africa on line, we can say covers almost all the big cities name Accra Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Tamale. About 95% of all businesses are hooked onto either one of these ISP's.

Presently the government ministries and parliament are all hooked up giving us a total of 100% coverage in that area. However, in the private sector only few shops and businesses can afford to be on the internet due to the high cost involved. It is hoped that with the growth in competition these costs will be reduced and the small and up-coming businesses will patronise the internet and its services. Prewsntly the private sector enjoys about 45%.
Interestingly enough, a research by the National Communications Authority of Ghana proved that in 1997 alone about 97% of all NGO's in the country were hooked on to the internet, 100% of all International Organisations i.e., the UN, the World Bank, VVHO, UNDP, in Accra all Embassies and High Commissions. On the average the patronage of the User and subscriber base of Internet Services is about 92% this includes all Academic and research centres.

In the past three years Ghana has experienced a high growth in ISP services as was mentioned earlier but one cannot speak or give a thumbs up for excellent connectivity.

The National Communications Authority which is the Regulatory Authority for telecommunications with four division which are -

• · Frequency Management
• · Regulations & Licensing
• · Legal an
• · Finance &

With the coming into force of Governments Reform Telecom Policy in 1996, ISP is now a liberalised service and there is evidence that the market has grown bigger. Also, as a result of Government Policy, IP telephony is NOT allowed in Ghana. The international telephone gateway has been limited to the two national network operators only i.e., Ghana Telecom and Western Telesystem Gh. Ltd (Westel) for a period of five years.

At the moment, tele-centres are a new concept to the Ghanaian populace hence the number indicates for itself. The same goes for cyber cafes. In real terms there are eight (8) tele-centres and 5 cyber cafes. In terms of tariffs this varies from every ISP service provider.