The Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has issued a warning to road contractors and persons who destroy telecommunication infrastructure such as fibre optic cables that they will face the full rigours of the law.

Speaking at the launch of the 10^th anniversary of the Chamber of Telecommunications, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said the perpetrators will also bear the cost of restoring the infrastructure to its original state.

“The National Engineering Coordinating Team, an entity that is chaired by the Chamber to ensure that we can bring some sanity into management of the road reservation has also been established. This team is to ensure that the rampant destruction of optic fibre cables is minimised if not eradicated once and for all.”

“Let me sound a note of caution to road contractors, other utilities and stakeholders that work in the road corridor that telecommunication infrastructure has been designated as critical information infrastructure. It is a crime to destroy telecommunication infrastructure and this include optic fibre cables”, the Minister said.

“I have not been too happy with the work of the coordinating committee. So I hope that this CI designation gives an impetus to your work. We will enforce the law to the letter and any road contractor or person who destroys fibre optic cables will face the full rigours of the law and bear the cost of restoring this infrastructure to its original state", she added.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also urged all communities to work with government and the network operators to protect cell sites from theft and vandalism, adding, “we all have a collective responsibility to protect telecommunication infrastructure.”

When she inaugurated the board of the National Communications Authority (NCA), she reiterated the fact that the digital transformation agenda of government resides on Information, Communications and Technology; telecommunications and the ability to manage the communication sector very well.

She also asked for a robust and tight regulatory approach and charged the board to regulate the sector in a forward looking and transparent manner that promotes fair and equitable competition to benefit all.

She urged the NCA to strategically position itself to facilitate the achievement of its goals.

“The NCA can only accomplish this by working with mobile network operators and other regulatory entities. Let me also indicate that I charged the board to ensure that the governing legislation is implemented to the letter without fear or favor.”

“I’ve received the work the chamber has done with the NCA and other regulators to revive the telecommunications tower guidelines. We are considering it and very soon we’ll work and make sure the necessary amendments are done”, she added.