Report on historical data of telecom Industry in Ghana launched

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - A 120-Page report that provides a historical data on the status and outlook of telecommunication industry in Ghana has been launched in Accra.

The premier report authored by Wilkofsky Gruen Associates, a New York based economic consultancy firm and Kina Telecom in Ghana has already been in the United States and United Kingdom.

Its core objectives were to identify trends and developments that affect the telecom industry, provide a source of information for the market and forecast each market segment in both cedis and in dollars. Segments that the report covered include, fixed lines, mobile communication, Internet, payphones, and equipment and infrastructure. Speaking prior to the launch in a speech read on his behalf, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of Communications said the introduction of the report indicated that the traditional market structure for telecommunication in Ghana was gradually evolving with changes, which would allow for robust and flexible developments.

He said it does only provide to policy makers comprehensive market analysis of the industry, but also to investors and telecomm operators as well as the public.

"This is one of the few publications that provides detailed market analysis of the industry."

Mr Victor Teppeh, Senior Telecom Analyst of Wilkofsky Gruen Associates and Kina Telecom said the report indicated that the telecom market in Ghana was at a threshold and poised to take off. He said the current revenue generation of about 550 million in the industry was most likely to jump to 1.5 million cedis in 2008 due to current developments in the telecom infrastructure in the country. Mr Teppeh mentioned improved management of Ghana telecom, maturation of the National Communication Authority (NCA), liberalisation of the fixed line market, new sources of financing among others as regulatory and related developments in the industry today.

Major John Tandoh (Retired), Director General of the NCA who chaired the function said Ghana had come far in the telecom industry setting the pace in many fields.

He said there was the need for telecommunication principles and the regulatory mechanisms to be revisited in order to improve interconnectivity and broadband Internet access.

Mrs Dorothy Gordon, Director General of Ghana/India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT supported by Ms Lamisi Mbila, Miss Ghana 2005 cut the tape to launch the report.

Mr Kofi Nsiah Poku, Executive Director of Kinapharma Company limited, from which Kina Telecom emerged, said the publication was part of company's interest in diversification. 20 Oct. 05