The Government of Ghana has launched a free roaming agreement with Togo and Benin under the Free Roaming Initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This expands Ghana’s previous partnership with Côte d’Ivoire to include the new Francophone countries. As a result, mobile users from Ghana, Togo, and Benin can now access mobile services in each other’s countries without incurring high roaming fees or needing multiple SIM cards.
At the launch, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Charles Acheampong, underscored the significance of this initiative, stating, “This initiative will allow our citizens to stay connected seamlessly, without the burden of high roaming charges or the inconvenience of multiple SIMs.” He also noted the cost savings for users, which last up to 30 consecutive days, fostering more travel and a stronger sense of regional unity.
Dr. Joe Anokye, Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), highlighted that the launch goes beyond technology. “It’s about bringing West Africa closer together,” he said, praising the collaborative efforts of teams in Ghana, Benin, and Togo, which made the ECOWAS Roaming Initiative possible.
Dr. Hervé Coovi Guedegbe, Executive Secretary of Benin’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP), emphasized the broader impact of the partnership. “This launch is a decisive move towards a more united, connected, and prosperous West Africa,” he remarked. His Togolese counterpart, ARCEP Togo Director General Michel Yaovi Galley, commended the leadership of the regulatory authorities and mobile network operators (MNOs) in the three countries, highlighting their collaboration as key to the initiative’s success.
The mobile operators in Ghana, Benin, and Togo have pledged their full support, committing to making it easier for customers to stay connected across borders.
In 2022, the NCA and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization approved a roaming pilot, allowing MTN and Vodafone Ghana to implement national roaming in the Volta region. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to introduce a National Roaming Policy, enabling network operators to share infrastructure.
