Ghana’s telecommunications regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA), is hosting a four-day meeting of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), bringing together regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, and academics to chart a unified digital path for the region.

The sessions, which began on Monday, July 21, and concluded yesterday at the NCA Tower in Accra, focused on harmonizing regulatory frameworks, enhancing consumer protection, expanding inclusive connectivity, and strengthening regional cybersecurity standards.

“Our strength as a sub-region lies in our ability to harmonize regulatory practices and share knowledge,” said Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Acting Director-General of the NCA, in his opening remarks. He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and consumer-focused regulation, highlighting the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative as a vital lever for integration.

“This initiative has the potential to lower consumer costs, improve service continuity, and strengthen regional cohesion,” he said, noting Ghana’s existing roaming agreements with Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and The Gambia. Rev. Fianko also spotlighted Ghana’s contributions to regional policy development in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data privacy. “The themes of consumer experience, infrastructure, and cybersecurity represent the pillars of a resilient digital economy,” he said.

WATRA Executive Secretary Aliyu Yusuf Aboki praised the NCA’s leadership, stating that the working groups are delivering outputs tailored to local realities across the region. “The significance of the work being undertaken at this meeting cannot be overstated,” he said. “This meeting is not merely a technical engagement but also a testament to the solidarity and mutual support that underpin WATRA’s mission.”

Mr. Aboki explained that the Consumer Access and Experience Working Group is focused on compliance and service quality, the Infrastructure Development Group on expanding robust and inclusive connectivity, and the Cybersecurity Group on building regional defense capacity and standards.

The outcomes of the working sessions will be presented for validation and adoption at WATRA’s next Conference of Regulators.