By Leo Nelson
Ghana has convened telecommunications regulators and mobile network operators from across West Africa to accelerate plans for a regional free roaming regime aimed at lowering cross-border communication costs.
The four-day Tripartite ECOWAS Roaming Meeting, hosted by the National Communications Authority in Accra, brings together officials from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone to advance the implementation of the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative and finalise bilateral agreements.
Speaking at the opening session, Suleman Salifu, Deputy Director General for Technical Operations at the National Communications Authority (NCA), said the discussions mark a “critical step” in consolidating earlier bilateral engagements and technical work. He said progress will depend on sustained collaboration between regulators and mobile network operators, anchored on mutual benefit, transparency and long-term viability.
Salifu added that the meeting comes at a pivotal time following a review of ECOWAS roaming regulations, which has provided guidance on refining the framework to reflect current market conditions.
Representing Liberia, Clarence K. Massaquoi, Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, said the initiative would ease communication and business transactions across borders by reducing or eliminating roaming charges. He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to regional cooperation in the telecoms sector.
From Sierra Leone, Musa Jalloh, Deputy Director for Regulatory Administration at the National Communications Authority Sierra Leone, described the talks as a milestone in building a digitally connected regional economy. He said affordable and seamless communication is essential for trade, mobility and education, and called for harmonised regulatory frameworks to support integration.
Jalloh also pointed to the rapid rollout of East Africa’s One Network Area initiative in 2014 as a benchmark, urging faster decision-making and stronger coordination among stakeholders. He backed efforts to harmonise short codes across the ECOWAS bloc to improve user experience.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between participating countries, setting the stage for reduced roaming costs and improved connectivity across borders.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts within the Economic Community of West African States to deepen regional integration and expand access to affordable digital services.