09 April 2024
Benin and Ghana's free-roaming initiative, aimed at reducing communication costs for their citizens traveling between the two countries, will go into effect on 1 July.
Benin's Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) and Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) signed a memorandum of understanding recently.
"The two parties have agreed that this memorandum will come into effect on 1 July 2024. The operationalization will lead to a significant reduction in tariffs for Beninese and Ghanaian consumers when roaming," said ARCEP.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free roaming initiative will facilitate the implementation of the protocol on the free movement of people, goods, and services, thereby enhancing active citizen participation in regional economic activities.
Under the ECOWAS initiative, citizens of both Ghana and Benin can now use mobile services in each other's countries without incurring international roaming charges. Ghana has already signed two ECOWAS free roaming initiatives, which are currently in effect. Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire successfully implemented the ECOWAS free roaming initiative in February 2024.
