Lawyer and Executive Director of Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, Kwame Owusu Danso, has urged the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, to take a more proactive role in safeguarding consumers within Ghana’s fast-growing digital and telecommunications sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 27, amid public discussions over the Bank of Ghana’s decision to suspend a proposed 0.75% charge on wallet-to-bank transfers, Mr. Danso said the sector minister must remain attentive to issues that directly affect ordinary citizens.
He stressed that stronger consumer protection is needed as more Ghanaians rely on digital financial services for daily transactions.
“The Communications Minister must be up and doing. The Communications Minister, Hon. Sam George, he must be up and doing,” he said.
According to him, there are growing concerns that the minister may be drifting away from core consumer-focused responsibilities, a situation he believes should be corrected.
“It appears that he is taking his eyes off the ball, and I think that caution must be brought to him that he must always make sure that he has his eyes clearly fixed on what is relevant because it appears he is dabbling in irrelevant matters within that space, and we don’t want that to happen,” Mr. Danso stated.
He further emphasized that vulnerable groups such as market traders, commercial drivers and teachers depend on government oversight to ensure fairness and protection in the digital economy.
“The market woman needs protection, the ‘trotro’ driver needs protection, the teacher needs protection, and they can get this protection if the sector minister provides that protection for them, and that is why I am saying that the sector minister must be up and doing,” he added.
The proposed levy, which was initially scheduled to take effect on June 1, would have applied to transfers from mobile money wallets to bank accounts.
However, the Bank of Ghana has since suspended the charge following public backlash and consultations with stakeholders, stating that the pause is to allow for further engagement.