Stop importing fake devices into the country - George Andah

Deputy Communications Minister, George Andah has cautioned Ghanaians especially importers to desist from importing fake and substandard devices into the country.

According to him, these devices contain high radiation emissions which pose health risk to users and for the country to level the playing field for technological investors, importers need to ensure quality products are on the market for consumers.

Lamenting on the rise of fake devices in the country, Mr. Andah revealed that his ministry will not hesitate to disconnect counterfeit devices from use because the health of Ghanaians is paramount to the Akufo-Addo-led government.

Explaining other challenges the country is faced with in the telecommunication sector, Mr. Andah said the unavailability of IMEI on these fake phones makes it difficult for the devices to be tracked hence posing as a security threat to both citizens and country.

Speaking on the theme "Bridging the Standardization Gap" at the National Communications Authority in Accra, Mr Andah noted that the over 5 million devices imported annually into the country; about 40% of them pay their duty upon arrival of goods, adding that, the Communications Ministry is putting measures in place to ensure that devices imported into the country go through the necessary requirements before they can have access to mobile networks to function.

During the 2019 World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, the Deputy Communications Minister said the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Communications is working closely with the NCA to ensure that relevant policies, regulations, guidelines and infrastructure investment needed to bring the country at par with global acceptable standards are being put in place.

Meanwhile, he tasked the NCA to liaise with mobile network operators to determine the level of potential risks of these devices which are on the market.

In an interview with the Deputy Director, Regulatory Administrator of NCA, Isaac Kofi Boateng, he noted that, the NCA has a laboratory that tests devices to check whether or not they meet the standards before they will be released into the market.

He added that, NCA is working with other stakeholders such as Ghana Standard Authority, Radiation Protection Agency and other infrastructures are being put in place to bridge the standardization gap.