Ghanaians To Benefit From Telco Penalties - Govt

Mobile phone subscribers could benefit from fines slapped on telecom operators for delivering poor service to them. The Communications Minister, Haruna Iddrisu has hinted of plans to let the National Communication Authority (NCA) redirect fines collected from the operators as rewards to the consumers who suffered as a result. The five operators as at Tuesday had hinted of full settlement of a total of Ghc 1. 2 million fine slapped on them by the regulator for poor service in accordance with an ultimatum issued by the minister. Hon. Iddrisu, however, announced that government will ensure that Ghanaians benefited from such penalties. �When there is disruption of services, we will compel them [telcos] through regulatory interventions, so the reward will go to the people for that poor quality of services. As a government, we will do that,� he said. �We will do so because we recognise the essential services they provide,� he promised. Meanwhile, some of the telecom operators support the minister�s suggestion describing it as welcoming. Even though there is no clear mechanism to make customers benefit, the operators say something can be worked out eventually. The CEO of MTN, Michael Ikpoki, speaking to Citi News said that the issue of poor network services were grave issues and promised that his outfit in conjunction with the Telecoms chamber would address the challenges.