The Acting Director of Engineering at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Edmund Yirenkyi Franko, has been elected by member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) representing Region D (Africa) for the 2023-2026 term.

The elections for the Council were held at the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.

The two other council members representing Region D are Egypt’s Dr El-Sayed Azzouz and Hassan Talib of Morocco.

Ing. Fianko becomes the second Ghanaian after the former Acting Director General of National Communications Authority, Major (Rtd) John Ray K. Tandoh who was elected to the Radio Regulations Board at the 1998 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis. 

The RRB comprises 12 members representing the following five ITU regions: Region A (The Americas), Region B, (Western Europe), Region C (Eastern Europe and Northern Asia), Region D (Africa), and Region E (Asia and Australasia).

The 12 members of the Board were elected at the Plenipotentiary Conference and will perform their duties independently and on a part-time basis.

Responding to his victory, Mr Fianko indicated that he is poised to ensure that during his tenure, he will strive to uphold the principles of the RRB and the Constitution of the ITU.

He added that by being a member of the RRB, he will ensure that services operating on frequencies that have been allocated by the ITU do so within the defined limits as set in the Radio Regulations.

Mr Fianko said he is optimistic his being on the Board will not only benefit Ghana but will also enhance the fair application of principles in the resolution of disputes with neighbouring countries on frequency issues. 

Ing. Fianko is an Electronic Communications Engineer with experience in radio frequency spectrum management, policy formulation, competition regulation, change management, ICT industry research and technical writing spanning over 18 years.

The Radio Regulatory Board Role

The Board’s role includes the following:

• Approving Rules of Procedure used by the Radiocommunication Bureau in applying the provisions of the Radio Regulations and registering frequency assignments made by Member-States,

• Addressing matters referred by the Bureau which cannot be resolved through the application of the Radio Regulations and Rules of Procedure;

• Considering  reports of unresolved interference investigations carried out by the Bureau at the request of one or more administrations and formulating recommendations

• Providing advice to Radiocommunication Conferences and the Radiocommunication Assemblies;

• Considering appeals against decisions made by the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding frequency assignments

• Performing any additional duties prescribed by a competent conference or by the Council.

The Board, Management and Staff of the NCA wish to congratulate Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko for attaining this feat!