Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has officially launched the ECOWAS Free Roaming initiative, now extending to neighboring Togo and Benin. This marks a significant expansion of the regional service, which began with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The agreement, first established in April 2024 between Ghana and Benin, was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by the regulatory authorities in both countries—Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) and Benin’s Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP).
The initiative, operational since July 1, 2024, allows citizens to use their mobile services across borders without incurring international roaming fees.
The Ministry underscored the importance of this initiative in strengthening ties between Ghana, Togo, and Benin, fostering easier communication and promoting cross-border business and social interactions. “This initiative ensures our citizens can stay connected without the hassle of high roaming fees or the need for multiple SIM cards,” the Ministry stated.
As part of the agreement, travelers to participating countries can enjoy 30 days of free roaming without extra charges, offering significant cost savings. The success of the initiative is credited to the collaborative efforts of the Implementation Committees from the three countries, alongside the leadership of Ghana’s NCA and ARCEP Benin.
Mobile Network Operators from Ghana, Togo, and Benin have also pledged their support for the initiative’s success. Discussions are underway to further extend the service, with preliminary talks between Ghana and Liberia exploring the possibility of a similar arrangement by June 2024, allowing travelers to be charged local rates when moving between the two nations.
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