The Ghanaian government is developing local content legislation for the telecommunications sector to boost reliance on domestic resources and support Ghanaian telecom companies.

Ghana had previously implemented a local content law in 2013, prioritizing local goods and services to boost domestic spending in the petroleum industry. The law aimed to ensure the localization of job opportunities and enhance the employment prospects for Ghanaian talent.

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Minister Ursula Owusu Ekuful announced the new initiative in Accra, emphasizing the legislation’s aim to prioritize local products, services, and employees to enhance the industry’s growth. This move seeks to reduce dependence on costly foreign consultants and contractors, promoting the management of digital infrastructure independently.

She highlighted that many international companies, upon winning contracts in the sector, subcontract them to domestic companies while retaining a larger portion of the profits for themselves. Ekuful also challenged the perception that foreign entities are superior to local ones, advocating for support towards local goods and businesses.

Minister Ekuful has consistently emphasized the importance of utilizing and enhancing local telecommunications services in Ghana and across the continent. In a parliamentary meeting in March, where she mentioned SpaceX’s Starlink being considered for an operational license to provide Internet connectivity in Ghana, she reiterated the importance of local dependence, stressing the need to operationalize the Regional Africa Satellite Company (RASCOM) instead of individual countries pursuing separate initiatives.

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