Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana says its quest to make services more affordable is hindered by measures it has been asked to implement following the National Communications Authority’s (NCA) declaration of it as a Significant Market Power (SMP).
The network operator believes that every person regardless of their background deserves the benefit of a modern connected life and therefore, strives to make its services accessible and affordable.
It has, however, identified the SMP directives by the NCA as a major stumbling block to realising its aim of offering services at a cheaper cost.
It said although it has, over the years, made some level of progress in this regard, the directives have limited the extent to which it can offer affordable services.
Due to its size and dominance in the telecoms sector in the country, the NCA, in June 2020, declared MTN as an SMP and directed it to implement corrective measures to ensure level playing field and to promote competition in the sector.
MTN had raised concerns with the process leading to the classification and sought legal redress at the High Court.
It, however, withdrew a lawsuit it filed at the Supreme Court seeking a review of the High Court’s ruling that upheld the decision by the NCA, bringing an end to the litigation.
It has since complied with the directives of the NCA.
But speaking at a Media and Stakeholder Forum in Bolgatanga, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Adwoa Wiafe observed that the directives are being implemented at the expense of affordability to customers.
