Despite the sentiments of many Ghanaians about the high cost of data, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications says the sentiments are unfounded as the country has one of the cheapest costs of internet data.
Internet data in our era of high digitalization has become a necessity in Ghana as it is in many places in Africa. It has become an everyday need for a significant number of Ghanaians. From attending virtual meetings, online lectures, research purposes, streaming live programs, and staying connected with friends and loved ones, internet data has become indispensable.
Ghanaians on a number of occasions and on different platforms have expressed their concern and frustration over how data cost is draining their pocket. There have been a number of demonstrations and picketings by some Ghanaians to register their displeasure on what they describe as exorbitant prices of data.
One cannot forget the “Data Must Fall” Campaign in 2022 when many citizens joined the calls for the telcos to reduce the prices of data.
The sentiments of Ghanaians about the cost of data have been lingering for some time now. But in an interesting development, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has a contrasting perspective. In the view of the Chamber, data is already cheap in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey says the cost of data in Ghana is one of the lowest in Africa.
Despite his stance, he was quick to add that although the cost in the Chamber’s view is moderate, he acknowledges that prices could still be reduced, provided certain cost barriers are addressed.
“The cost of data in Ghana is among the cheapest but we as an industry think that we still can come down,” Dr. Ashigbey told the media at the launch of the Ministry of Communications’ committee mandated to find ways to reduce data cost.
In his view, the only avenue that can help to reduce the “cheap” data further is the price build-up. He defends that the telcos are not engaged in any profiteering but the costs of inputs and its accompanied taxes are to be blamed.
Dr. Ashigbey says the inputs are very expensive and are mostly dollar-denominated coupled with high taxes. He therefore assured that the committee will work around the cost buildup to find means to slashing the prices of data.
He also recognized that it would be in the best interest of the telcos for the charges to come down further to increase usage.
“If we come down and a lot more people are consuming it, it would be better for us. The profit itself is not a problem. The challenge is the cost price. If we can find a way of bringing the cost price down, all of that will go. The issue, most of our inputs are imported. So the issues of even the import taxes that again, are in dollars as well,” he indicated.
Despite the chamber’s stance, the admission that the cost could be further reduced brings new hope that Ghanaians could possibly enjoy cheaper costs of data in the future.
Already a committee has been inaugurated by the Ministry of Communications mandated to find ways to implement the agenda.
