By Patrick Biddah
Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), has called on the country’s security agencies to treat vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure as a major national security offense because of its damaging impact on communication services and the digital economy.
According to him, the destruction and theft of equipment at cell sites continue to disrupt essential services, including mobile money transactions, online classes, business operations and emergency communications across the country.
Rev. Ing. Fianko made the call during a stakeholders’ forum held in Accra to mark the 2026 World Telecommunications and Information Society Day under the theme: “NCA at 30: Stakeholders’ Reflection on Regulation, Innovation and the Future of Ghana’s Communications Industry.”
He said the increasing incidents of theft of batteries and other critical equipment from communication towers were causing service interruptions in many communities, despite efforts by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to build resilient systems.
“Once batteries are stolen and power goes off, the site may not hold up and services will go down. When that happens, it affects online classes, mobile money transactions and several other digital services people depend on daily,” he stated.
The Director General noted that illegal mining activities had also become a major threat to telecommunications infrastructure, with some towers being destroyed or destabilized in mining communities.
He stressed that telecommunications infrastructure had become critical national infrastructure and therefore required stronger protection from the security agencies and the public.
Rev. Ing. Fianko disclosed that the NCA was also intensifying efforts to hold Mobile Network Operators accountable for the quality of services delivered to consumers.
He said the Authority had established clear public service benchmarks to assess operator performance across the country.
“We are monitoring operators continuously to ensure they provide the level of quality service expected by consumers. Where enforcement becomes necessary, the NCA will not hesitate to act,” he warned.
He explained that some areas continued to experience poor network coverage because users were located at the periphery of existing cell sites, adding that the Authority and operators had developed plans to roll out additional towers this year to improve coverage and service quality.
However, he said delays in acquiring permits from assemblies and environmental regulators, coupled with resistance from some communities, were slowing the deployment of new telecommunications infrastructure.
“Whenever communities resist the siting of towers, they are indirectly delaying improvements in service quality within their own areas,” he explained.
Addressing public fears about radiation from telecommunications towers, Rev. Ing. Fianko said there was currently no scientific evidence linking radio waves from cell sites to cancer.
He noted that tests conducted in Ghana by the Radiation Protection Institute consistently showed radiation levels remained far below harmful limits.
He also announced that the NCA would intensify its nationwide consumer education programme to educate the public on telecommunications infrastructure, consumer rights, service quality expectations and the safe use of communication technologies.
The forum brought together regulators, industry players, policymakers and other stakeholders to reflect on the growth of Ghana’s communications industry over the past 30 years and discuss strategies for innovation, regulation and improved digital connectivity.
