NCA initiates process to develop Ghana’s First National Emergency Telecommunications Plan
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has begun consultations with key stakeholders towards the development of Ghana’s first National Emergency Telecommunications Plan, a strategic framework designed to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
The high-level engagements, which commenced on August 11, 2025, at the NCA Tower in Accra, brought together representatives from Ministries, Sector Agencies, Mobile Network Operators, and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications. The initiative is being supported by the United Nations through the World Food Programme (WFP).
The plan will integrate early warning systems into Ghana’s national emergency strategy, ensuring timely and reliable communication before, during, and after disasters. It will be anchored on four key pillars – Monitoring and Evaluation, Disaster Preparedness, Response and Relief, and Communication Systems.
Addressing participants, the Director General of the NCA, Rev. Ing. Edmund Fianko, underscored the urgent need for coordinated action in addressing the country’s limited prioritisation of emergency preparedness.
“It is sad that we do not take our emergencies seriously. It is therefore imperative that prompt communication in response to changing weather conditions and other natural hazards be viewed as critical, as has been seen in recent times. The NCA pledges its full support to ensure that our communications infrastructure is ready during emergencies,” he stated.
Rev. Fianko further disclosed plans for the Authority to establish an amateur radio station and alternative communication mechanisms to ensure reliable connectivity during seismological and other disaster-related events.
The roadmap, once finalised, will focus on strengthening Ghana’s communications infrastructure to guarantee that critical information reaches the public and relevant agencies without delay, thereby enabling an effective and coordinated disaster response.
