Advancing Connectivity: Ghana and Benin Sign Bilateral Roaming Service Agreement

In a significant stride towards enhancing cross-border communication, the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana and the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et de la Poste (ARCEP) of Benin have inked a bilateral roaming service agreement. The landmark agreement, signed on March 27, 2024, in Cotonou, Benin, paves the way for seamless mobile communications between the two West African nations.

The primary objective of this agreement is to implement the regulation on roaming on mobile communications networks within the ECOWAS region. It aims to foster collaboration between the respective Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana and Benin, facilitating the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative. This initiative is poised to revolutionize regional connectivity by enabling subscribers to enjoy uninterrupted communication services across borders.

This is the third country Ghana is entering a bilateral roaming relationship with. In February 2024, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire effectively put into operation the ECOWAS free roaming initiative. Prior to this, in November 2023, Ghana’s National Communications Authority and Togo’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications reached an agreement to establish bilateral roaming services, facilitating seamless communication between the two nations.

Dr. Hervé Coovi Guedegbe, the Executive Secretary of ARCEP, welcomed the delegation from Ghana and reaffirmed Benin’s commitment to collaborating with the NCA and other Member States to ensure the smooth implementation of the ECOWAS Free Roaming services. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by NCA and ARCEP in piloting the service towards full-scale implementation.

Mr. Flavien Bachabi, the Chairman of the Board of ARCEP, commended Ghana and Benin for their substantial progress in realizing the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative. He urged other ECOWAS members to expedite efforts to achieve the objectives outlined by the ECOWAS Ministers of Telecommunications, ICT, Digitalisation, and Posts during their meeting in Niger in 2016.

Prof. Ezer Osei Yeboah-Boateng, the Deputy Director-General for Technical Operations at NCA, reiterated Ghana’s commitment to leveraging telecommunications for regional integration and economic growth. He expressed optimism that the bilateral agreement would facilitate seamless cross-border communication for consumers in Ghana.

Moreover, Prof. Yeboah-Boateng highlighted Ghana’s proactive stance towards the ECOWAS “Free” Roaming Initiative. He noted that the government amended the Electronic Communications Act in 2019 to exempt incoming intracommunity roaming traffic within the ECOWAS region from certain charges, demonstrating Ghana’s unwavering commitment to regional connectivity.

In the forthcoming weeks, MNOs from both countries will collaboratively address outstanding issues to facilitate the activation and testing of the agreed roaming services. The launch of the service in July 2024 in Accra heralds a new era of enhanced connectivity, underscoring the shared commitment of Ghana and Benin towards regional integration and development.