Ghanaians will soon enjoy more affordable and enhanced data bundles on five national holidays, thanks to a new agreement between the Ministry of Communications and the country’s major telecommunications companies.
According to Communication Minister Samuel Nartey George, the deal was reached after extensive negotiations with the CEOs of the telecom operators.
“I initially proposed discounted bundles for all 18 public holidays. But the telcos said that would be financially unsustainable,” he told Accra-based Joy News.
“We agreed on five major holidays: Independence Day, May Day, Republic Day, Founders’ Day, and Farmers’ Day,” he disclosed. “On these days, every Ghanaian will enjoy specialised, cheaper data bundles.”
The initiative builds on the success of the Independence Day data relief earlier this year, which offered enhanced packages to users.
“What we did on Independence Day — the enhanced bundles — that’s going to be replicated,” he confirmed.
Sam George clarified a recent public statement, noting that he had promised a roadmap, not immediate price reductions.
“People said I promised prices would drop in 14 days. No. I said I would get a roadmap — and in 13 days, the committee submitted it,” he explained.
That roadmap outlines short, medium, and long-term strategies to reduce data costs nationwide. In the short term, the Ministry has identified specific demographics for targeted relief, supported by databases currently being built with input from regulators and stakeholders.
“Once we finalise the data sets of the individuals we want to target, we’ll make an official announcement,” he said.
The initiative has received the full backing of the telecom sector.
“I met all three CEOs, and they all agreed something must be done about the high cost of data,” the minister stated.
Beyond pricing adjustments, Sam George identified structural barriers such as high taxes and electricity costs that affect telecom operations.
“Taxation is a big part of the cost structure,” he noted. “Also, telecom towers across the country consume significant amounts of electricity, yet the sector does not benefit from preferential power rates like the mining industry.”
To address this, the Ministry is engaging the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to establish a dedicated telecom tariff, similar to what exists for mining companies.
“This is not just a talk shop,” Sam George stressed. “We are doing the hard work.”
He also expressed gratitude to the telecom companies for their collaboration and commitment.
“I must say I’m extremely grateful to the three telcos. They’ve shown real dedication,” he said.
While acknowledging that reforms will take time, the Minister assured Ghanaians that relief is on the way.
“The impact may not be immediate, but Ghanaians will soon begin to feel the difference,” he concluded.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
