By Oko Sankah
Industry experts who have hitherto been wondering the sponsors of the sinister attempt to prevent the successful implementation of Interconnect Clearinghouse services in Ghana no longer need to wonder as Subah Info-Solutions has finally decided to play what could be called the last card on its fight against the ICH - total cancellation of the ICH license without regard to the negative effect such an action will have on the entire telecom industry in Ghana.
The case of Subah Info-Solutions is akin to that of the playground bully, who upon not being selected as a member of any of the participating teams decides to take away the available football. It is either he is allowed to play (whether he is qualified or not does not matter) or no other person would play. That an individual feels he has the resources to hold the entire country to ransom leaves much to be desired.
As has been severally reported since 2015 when the licensing regime of the ICH services in Ghana was completed by the NCA following a competitive bid in which Subah Info-Solutions and 4 others fully participated, upon the award of the operating license to Afriwave Ghana Limited, several roadblocks has been placed in the path of Afriwave ensuring that the service launch is delayed.
As was reported in several publications including The Republic Newspaper of 11th March 2015 in a piece title "TELCO 'Mafia' Plot to stop 'ICH' -As they move to unleash media 'attack dogs' on telephone clearing-house" The media and select individuals were fully mobilized and adequately financed to fight the ICH operations in Ghana.
The strategy to frustrate the operations of ICH in Ghana was in three fold - 1. Tie up the service implementation in the legal system; 2. Ensure the telecom operators do not cooperate with Afriwave in the completion of the implementation process; 3. Discredit the NCA and the licensing process.
The first two strategies they have been implementing before now. However following the formal cancellation of Subah's contract with the GRA for the monitoring of traffic and accounting for revenue due to the Government a few weeks ago, they have now gone full scale with the third strategy which is to bring the NCA to disrepute with a view to swing public opinion towards the cancellation of the ICH license.
The questions that right thinking individuals should be asking at this points are as follows:
1. Why did Subah Info-Solutions participate in the licensing process for the ICH service if it felt the services to be offered would violate its existing contract with the GRA. Why did it not simply go to court to enforce its right instead of participating in the ICH bid?
2. Why is it that of all the companies that participated in the bid only Subah Info-Solution is crying foul. If Subah's contract with the GRA was not part of the ICH services would it be crying foul?
3. Why is IMANI Ghana and other Subah paid agents only interested in pushing the case of Subah Info-Solutions in their flawed and inaccurate analysis of the bid and licensing process and not that of other participants. Is this the case of he who pays the piper calls the tune?
4. Who has been financing all the fights against the successful rollout of the ICH service in Ghana?
5. Why is it that only when the GRA formally cancelled Subah Info-Solution contract, since the service has not been run efficiently and is now part of the ICH services, that there is conceited effort to discredit the NCA and the licensing process that brought about the ICH?
The facts of the matter remains that the ICH licensing followed due process. The license was duly awarded to a Ghanaian company and despite the roadblocks placed on its path by Subah Info-Solutions and its paid agents, Afriwave the licensee has gone ahead and deployed the first phase of the project and currently working hard to complete the second and final phase of the service delivery. This effort should be supported by all well-meaning individuals and organizations.
The time has come to free Ghana from the hands of the cabal that has held us stagnant for many years and who believe that they are above any other group in Ghana and whatever they are not qualified to get, no other group should have it.
Shame on those intent on stopping the wheel of progress in Ghana telecom industry.