Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang pictured with staff of Afriwave Telecom Ghana Ltd
Afriwave Telecom Ghana Limited has paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang extending its congratulations on her assumption of office and using the occasion to discuss key developments and challenges within Ghana’s telecommunications sector.
During the meeting, the Afriwave team briefed the Vice President on the operations and impact of the Interconnect Clearinghouse (ICH), which the company manages under license from the National Communications Authority (NCA).
Afriwave highlighted the ICH’s crucial role in ensuring seamless connectivity among all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana by enabling interconnection between their networks.
According to Afriwave’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Francis Poku, the ICH has significantly improved efficiency in the sector by managing billing data, reconciliation processes, and dispute resolution across networks.
Poku noted that all MNOs and licensed International Wholesale Carriers (IWCs) are linked through the ICH platform, helping streamline operations and reduce inconsistencies.
He said the national interconnect traffic has grown considerably from an average of 800 million minutes per month in 2016 to over 1 billion minutes per month as of the second quarter of 2025.
One key issue raised was the sharp decline in foreign exchange inflows from IWCs, which have dropped from about $20 million to under $1 million over the past five years.
Poku attributed this to pricing constraints imposed by MNOs and the growing popularity of internet-based calls such as WhatsApp, which bypass traditional voice networks.
He appealed to the Vice President for government intervention to help address financial and policy bottlenecks that threaten the sustainability of the ICH and Afriwave’s operations as a wholly Ghanaian-owned company.
In her response, Vice President Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the concerns raised and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting local businesses.
She assured Afriwave of the government’s intention to introduce policies that will enhance the growth of indigenous companies and enable regional expansion.
Afriwave Telecom Ghana Limited is the sole operator of Ghana’s Interconnect Clearinghouse, a centralised platform that facilitates interconnection between network providers and helps ensure transparency and accountability in the telecom ecosystem.
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