- Ghana and The Gambia are in talks to launch a free roaming initiative, enhancing West African connectivity. Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and National Communications Authority (NCA) are key players in this initiative.
- This means mobile users in both countries will avoid extra charges for calls, texts, and data, boosting trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.
- The collaboration aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.
Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative. This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration.
The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees. By reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.
A boost for trade and travel
The free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication. Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.
This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.
In June 2023, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire became the first ECOWAS countries to implement the free-roaming initiative, allowing subscribers to receive calls without paying roaming fees and to be charged local rates when making calls while in the partner country.
Driving regional transformation
By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region.
The implementation comes when technology is increasingly seen as a catalyst for Africa’s development. The reduction in communication costs has a ripple effect, not only improving the ease of doing business but also enhancing cultural and social exchange across borders.
The partnership between Ghana and The Gambia underscores a shared vision of leveraging technology for regional growth. By creating accessible communication channels, the two nations are fostering collaboration that goes beyond borders. As more ECOWAS member states adopt similar frameworks, West Africa is poised to become a more interconnected and digitally empowered region.
This initiative reflects the potential for digital solutions to solve long-standing challenges, ensuring that Africa remains competitive in a globalised economy.
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