Ethical behaviour urged in Telecoms industry

Reverend Dr. Mensa Anamua Otabil, General Overseer and Head Pastor of International Central Gospel Church, has urged multi-national telecommunications operators in Ghana to work ethically and provide good services to customers.

In a sermon at an interdenominational thanksgiving service organized by Zain Ghana, he said “if you know your network can only accommodate 10,000 lines, do not sell 40,000 phones and lines only for your customers to experience network problems.”

The service was for the staff and management of Zain Ghana, otherwise called Zainers, distributors of Zain products and customers of Zain to thank God for the progress made by the company in its bid to start operating before Christmas this year.

Dr. Otabil said even though some international telecommunication dealers were providing customers good services, in Ghana mobile phone operators seem to be doing the opposite.

He said that Ghanaians were tired of the numerous mobile phone network problems such as speech mutation, call drops, cross calls, calls not getting through, automatic disconnection of calls and text messages not getting through among other things, saying that the people would expect the new multi-nationals to do better.

Dr. Otabil urged telecommunication operators to employ, retain and associate themselves with valuable workers, embrace challenges and adhere to strict professionalism in order to maintain a good reputation.

“Remember that complacency is the enemy of progress so have people who will always keep you focused on the ultimate goal and ensure that your priorities are right,” he said.

Dr Otabil noted that with as many as five new multi-nationals, namely Vodafone, Globacom, Zain, MTN and Tigo in the telecoms market, the competition would be tough for each player.

He said the network that provided the best quality service with less network problems would stand out and win the loyalty of potential subscribers.

Dr. Otabil said “The pressure of competition should challenge you to want to distinguish yourself in terms of quality service and customer care.

“Pressure is what brings diamond, oil, water and other precious minerals from the earth and so the pressure of competition should only bring the best in terms of innovation and quality services from the growing telecom industry,” he said.

Dr. Otabil expressed worry that in Ghana customer service was a luxury, but urged the companies to make the interest of the customer paramount.

Mr. Stephen Torode, Chief Operating Officer of Zain, in charge of Central Africa, said he was challenged by the words of wisdom from Dr. Otabil and pledged that Zain would live by those words and turn the telecom industry in Ghana into 'a wonderful world'.

“We are excited about our coming into Ghana and more especially that we have the opportunity to begin our operations with God and with such wise counsel from a preacher,” he said.