The Gambia, Ghana to implement free roaming

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA), its Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and mobile network operators (MNOs) are in talks with representatives from The Gambia to implement the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Roaming Initiative.

"This initiative aims to reduce the cost of telecommunications services for citizens traveling between Ghana and The Gambia, fostering seamless communication and strengthening economic and social ties," the NCA said in a statement.

The Ghanaian authority said the outcome of this week's negotiations will be a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The MoU will enable mobile network operators to start technical and regulatory discussions, leading to the full implementation and launch of the ECOWAS Roaming Regulations in the first half of 2025.

ECOWAS is a regional political and economic union of 15 West African countries.

It aims to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc and a full economic and trading union.

Government officials from Ghana and The Gambia during the ECOWAS negotiations. (Source: NCA Ghana)

ECOWAS deals abound

Many ECOWAS member states have actively signed deals to connect underserved communities and upgrade infrastructure.

Thanks to existing bilateral agreements, Ghanaians already benefit from affordable roaming services in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin.

Related:Ghana, Benin to implement free roaming initiative

Ghana signed a free roaming deal with Côte d'Ivoire in February 2024, allowing citizens from both countries to use mobile services in each other's countries without incurring international roaming charges.

Benin and Ghana's free roaming initiative, took effect on July 1, 2024, while a deal between Ghana, Togo and Benin was launched in October 2024.

In November 2023, Ghana's National Communications Authority and Togo's Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications agreed to establish bilateral roaming services between the two countries.