Telcos in Ghana Offer Free Packages to Support Fight Against COVID-19

Telecommunication companies in Ghana are offering various free internet packages to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Telecommunications Chamber confirmed in a statement that some of the free packages include access to over 100 educational online sites and e-learning platforms.

The chamber also confirmed that about 240,000 customers use 3 terabytes of data each day to access online educational material.

“Our vision at the Chamber is to unlock the power on telecommunications, technology, and connectivity during these times so that our people, society and the industry can thrive beyond this crisis. Below is a summary of our mobile industry’s interventions categorized and under consumer, government, network resilience and our people that is common to all our members,” the chamber said.

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“In consultation with the Ghana Health Service, our members are leveraging their infrastructure to broadcast emergency communications to educate over 30 million customers on COVID-19, daily safety tips using Ring Back Tones, SMS, Social Media, etc,” the statement added.

The CEO of the Chamber Kenneth Ashigbey said: “Our industry is working meticulously during these difficult times to keep lives saved, emergency and educational services online, together with businesses, families, and friends connected.”

Ghana telecommunications companies have also taken steps to optimise remote channels such as customer care lines, digital platforms and others to reduce visit to service centres currently operating from 8 am-2 pm daily omitting weekends.

They are collaborating with the Bank of Ghana to provide free internet for mobile money transfers below GH¢100 in order to facilitate digital forms of payment and to increase social distance rules that minimize the incidence of new COVID-19 infections.

The fraud team works equally assiduously with Internet experts, service providers and social media sites to counter COVID-19 related fraud and misinformation on our network.

They are offering unlimited access to essential websites and government portals offering COVID-19 knowledge and security standards to allow people to access information free of charge.

They are also ensuring, continued collaboration with the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) on a zero-rate Ghana Smart Workplace Portal to encourage government employees to work from home.