The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana hosted a high-level delegation from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) from 28 to 30 May 2025 in Accra. This is a strategic exchange that showcases the building blocks behind regional collaboration among National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and the shared commitment to universal access on the continent.
The visit, with a focal point on Ghana's implementation of universal access concepts, further reinforces a strong bilateral relationship between the country and South Africa. ICASA's visit to Ghana was aimed at learning from the country's holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to developing broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved communities through the NCA.
Rev. Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko, Acting Director General of NCA, reaffirmed that West-South cooperation remains of immense value in innovative regulation. Additionally, he stated that Ghana's success factors reside in sustainable financing mechanisms and inter-agency collaboration. The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is one of the critical pillars of Ghana's strategy and is funded through a 1% contribution from the revenues of licensed operators. This model has facilitated the rollout of 2G and 3G mobile infrastructure services in underserved areas, thereby promoting digital inclusion and greater access to voice and data services.
According to ICASA Board Member Councillor Cathrine Mushi, the visit was crucial for South Africa's Vision 2030, which aims for universal access to broadband. She acknowledged that South Africa faces structural challenges—legal and regulatory fragmentation being the primary concern—and expressed interest in Ghana's enabling frameworks and implementation options.
The other delegate at the visit was Mr Eric Nkopodi, Senior Manager of Engineering and Technology at ICASA, who emphasised that South Africa continues to focus on refining deployment frameworks, rights-of-way, dispute resolution, and rural infrastructure assessments. Coordinated institutional efforts being undertaken in Ghana provide practical insights to South Africa on its ongoing regulatory reforms.
During the three-day visit, the ICASA delegation met with key stakeholders, including GIFEC, American Tower Company, West Africa Cable System (WACS), and local government representatives, who provided a well-rounded view of the technical and policy environment underpinning Ghana's progress towards digital inclusion.
Not only does this benchmarking visit lend weight to the ongoing need for peer learning, but it also demonstrates how universal access can be accelerated through inter-agency coordination, sustainable funding, and regional knowledge exchange. This serves as a reminder that Africa-led solutions remain pivotal in setting the technological course for the continent.
