Communications Ministry Lacks Experts -Adjepong

The Ministry of Communications and Technology has no experts to advice on telecommunication matters.

The ministry has responsibility for the country's Information Technology and Telecommunications sectors and the absence of a telecom expert, is hampering the work of the ministry, and denying the Minister, timely and appropriate advice on matters relating to the sector.

Industry players have linked the delay in the conclusion of several matters including the penalties owed the National Communications Authority (NCA) by Western Telesystems Ghana Limited to the situation.

But, the minister, Felix Owusu Adjepong says, the WESTEL case is going through the required procedure and will be settled soon.

He however admitted that the absence of a telecom adviser is affecting the effectiveness of the ministry.

Government had to rely on the 'free' advice of some Moroccan experts in its negotiations with Telekom Malaysia over their management of Ghana Telecommunications Company.

Although this cannot be directly attributed to the lack of experts in the ministry, some analysts say, government would have had no justification for its action.

There are currently in Ghana a lot of expertise, but the unattractiveness of civil service employment and other factors are hindering their engagement.

Mr. Owusu Adjepong says, efforts are underway to strengthen the human resource base of the ministry including the employment of the required technical experts.

This effort, according to him is been hampered by the bureaucratic employment process of the civil and public service.