CPA in demo against telecom companies

The Consumer Protection Agency is mobilizing public support for a planned demonstration against telecom companies in the country later this Month.

According to the pressure group, an average of 25 complaints is received on daily basis about poor service of a mobile network operator.

The CPA is unhappy persistent petitions on the ineffectiveness of the telecom companies to the National Communication Authority and the Minister for Communications, have yielded no positive result.

Head of Programs and Research, Nana Prempeh Aduhene, identifies poor network connectivity, exorbitant internet charges and deceptive text message promotions as some services subscribers are unhappy with.

He says the planned protest march will demand equity from the mobile phone operators. The demonstrators will present a petition to the Minister for Communications on the 27th of this month.

The CPA has dubbed the protest 'GHANA OFF PHONE DAY', where they are calling on all Ghanaians to put off their phones from 6am-12noon, to send a signal to the telecommunication industries that without subscribers, they don't exist.

Nana Prempeh estimates the six hour phones off will cost the telecommunications industries about $6million dollars.

He tells Luv Biz Report it is only when consumers hit the pocket of telecom companies that they will respect their rights.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Protection Agency says it will continue to engage interest groups in the insurance industry to ensure Ghanaians pay realistic insurance premium.

The National Insurance Commission suspended the publicized increment of insurance tariffs for commercial vehicles, in the wake of calls by the Transport Ministry for further consultation and sensitization.

The insurance companies had intended to increase premium payments by an average of 200% for commercial drivers. But this was opposed by commercial drivers who threatened to pass on the new tariffs to commuters.

A technical committee has been instituted to take a second look at the justification for the increases.

Speaking to Luv Biz Report, Nana Prempeh noted the current tariff increase would not be beneficial to all parties.

He says the Agency would soon embark on a nationwide sensitization for consumers to demand and protect their rights.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh