The National Communication Authority (NCA) in Ghana has established a dispute resolution committee to resolve disputes related to communication services in the country.
The 9-member committee which was officially launched on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, will help promote professionalism and open communication in resolving conflicts, thereby fostering trust and cooperation among the parties involved.
The committee, created by statute Sections 84 and 85 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), demonstrates the NCA’s commitment to promoting fair competition, protecting consumer rights, and ensuring the development of a healthy communications sector in Ghana.
The committee’s primary function is to provide a platform for resolving disputes in a fair, impartial, and transparent manner, avoiding the need for lengthy and costly legal battles.
The DRC’s jurisdiction includes:
Network operators, service providers, network providers, Network operator service providers, utility providers, and consumers.
Thus, the committee is under the law is specific to dispute between:
• A network operator and a Network operator
• A service provider and a Service provider
• Network provider and a service provider
• A network service provider and utility provider
• Network operator service and consumers.
According to the National Communication Authority, the establishment of the conflict resolution committee does not take away complaints handling powers from the authority, however, a consumer complaint against operators may be submitted to the authority, and the authority acts as a facilitator in the consumer complaint redress process.
Speaking at the launch of the committee, the board chair of the National Communication Authority, Okatakyie Ababio Boakye Danquah II, said this development is part of the authority’s 5-year strategic plan where they have announced their commitment to being a professional and proactive regulator of communication and the digital eco-system.
“we recognized our role in acting as a binding force to create the enabling, yet well–protected ecosystem to encourage collaboration and by so doing, meet the growing demands of the industry.
He added that the NCA will begin public sensitization soon, to educate Ghanaians on the procedures to engage the Dispute Resolution Committee and the DRC user guideline will be published on their website which every Ghanaian will have access to.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com |Abigail Owusu
