NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY ACT, 2008

AN ACT to establish the National Communications Authority as the central body to license and regulate communications activities and services in the country; and to provide for related purposes.

Date of Assent: 11th December,

1. 2008.

   ENACTED by the President and Parliament:

National Communications Authority

Establishment of the National Communications Authority

1. 1. (1) There is established by this Act, a body known as the National Communications Authority. (2) The Authority is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and may sue and be sued in its corporate name. (3) The Authority may for the performance of its functions acquire and hold movable and immovable property and may enter into a contract or any other transaction. (4) Where there is hindrance to the acquisition of property, the property may be acquired for the Authority under the State Property and Contracts Act 1960 (C.A.6) or the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125) and the costs shall be borne by the Authority.

Object of the Authority

1. 2. The object of the Authority is to regulate the provision of communications services in the country.

Functions of the Authority

1. 3. For the purpose of achieving its object, the Authority shall (a) establish and monitor the implementation of national communications standards and ensure compliance accordingly; (b) formulate a strategic plan; (c) grant communication licence; (d) regulate and monitor licensees, holders of frequency authorisations in consultation with the National Media Commission where appropriate; (e) ensure fair competition amongst licencees, operators of communications networks and service providers of public communications; (f) classify communications services to include; (i) closed user group services; (ii) private communications services; (iii) value added services; and (iv) any other service designated by the Minister and published in the Gazette; (g) determine applications for communication licences including frequency authorisations, (h) maintain the Register established under section 26; (i) collect and arrange to be collected moneys lawfully due to the Authority; (j) establish a frequency plan and monitor any frequency allocated to the communications industry; (k) investigate and resolve disputes (i) related to harmful interference with frequency brought to the attention of the Authority or of which the Authority has knowledge, (ii) amongst users and operators in respect of rates, billings and services provided and facilitate relief where necessary amongst the users and operators; (iii) in the event of the failure to obtain redress from providers of public communications services, and (iv) in respect of interconnection sharing facilities and utility installations; (i) carry out on its own initiative or at the request of a person, investigations in relation to a person whose conduct is in contravention of this Act; (m) establish quality of service indicators and reporting requirements for operators and service providers; (n) certify and ensure the testing of communications equipment for compliance with international standards and environmental health and safety standards including electromagnetic radiation and emissions; (o) ensure the systematic implementation of policy directives of the Minister and of communications policies in the country; (p) obtain requisite information from any person for purposes of the performance of its functions; (q) when designated by the Minister, represent the Republic at international fora; (r) issue guidelines and standards from time to time; (s) support the implementation of the Universal Access Policy, (t) encourage high standards of propriety within the Authority and promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the staff of the Authority; (u) establish a policy and resource framework for the operation of the Authority in line with the overall strategic plan of the Authority; (v) ensure that the principles of good corporate governance are complied with at all times; (w) establish and manage a national numbering plan for network and application services; (x) advise the Minister on (i) matters related to the communications industry within the country and globally, and (iii) policies including incentives that may encourage investment and innovation in the communications industry in the country; and (y) perform any other function assigned to it under this Act or any other enactment or that is ancillary to the object of the Authority.

Powers of the Authority

1. 4. The Authority may exercise the following powers:

(a) enter into a contract for the supply of goods and services; (b) invest the funds of the Authority that are not immediately required for the performance of its functions and ensure the judicious use of the funds; (c) publish information that is relevant to its functions and activities in a manner that it considers appropriate; (d) promote and where necessary fund the training of persons for the communications industry; (e) undertake research and development work related to its functions; and (f) promote research and the development by other persons of the communications industry.

Regulatory and best practice of the Authority

1. 5. The Authority shall in the performance of its functions have regard to (a) the principles of transparency, accountability, proportionality and consistency; (b) best regulatory practice; (c) the protection of the interests of consumers or users of communications networks or communications services and in particular to the interests of consumers’ choice, quality of service and value for money; (d) the impact on the environment of the activities undertaken by telecommunications service providers and telecommunications network providers; (e) the promotion of competition in the provision of communications services; (f) the various demands, interests and uses of the electromagnetic spectrum; (g) the needs and interests of persons with a disability, the elderly, low-income earners and the vulnerable; (h) the opinions of consumers and members of the general public; and (i) the interests of both rural and urban dwellers.

Governing body of the Authority

1. 6. (1) The governing body of the Authority is a Board consisting of (a) the chairperson; (b) the Director-General appointed under section 16; (c) one representative of the (i) the National Security Council, (ii) the National Media Commission, (iii) Ministry of Communications, not below the rank of a director. (d) one person with experience and expertise in communications; and (e) three other persons at least one of whom is a woman and each of whom has knowledge of expertise in electrical engineering, law, business or public administration.

(2) A person is not qualified for appointment if that person

(a) is directly or indirectly involved in the management of; or

(b) has a financial or commercial interest in a communications network operator, a communications service provider, a communications equipment manufacturer or supplier either of whom operates within the country or outside the country or any other entity with an interest in the communications industry of this country.

(3) The members of the Board shall be appointed by the President in accordance with article 70 of the Constitution. (4) The Board shall ensure the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Authority.

Liability of members

1. 7. (1) The duties of directors contained in Part Q of Chapter II of the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) shall apply to members of the Board. (2) A member of the Board is not personally liable for damage or injury to a third party that arises in the execution of an official duty of that member, if the member at all material times acted in good faith.

Tenure of office of members of the Board

1. 8. (1) A member of the Board shall hold office for a period not exceeding four years and is eligible for re-appointment but a member shall not be appointed for more than two terms.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Director-General.

(3) A member of the Board may at any time resign from office in writing addressed to the President through the Minister. (4) A member of the Board, other than the Director-General who is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board without sufficient cause ceases to be a member of the Board. (5) The President may by letter addressed to a member revoke the appointment of that member. (6) Where a member of the Board is for a sufficient reason, unable to act as a member, the Minister shall determine whether the inability would result in the declaration of a vacancy.

(7) Where there is a vacancy

(a) under subsection, (3), (4) (5), 10 (2) or 11 (3); or

(b) as a result of a declaration under subsection (6);

(8) Subject to this section, the Board may determine the procedure for its meetings.

Disclosure of interest

1. 10. (1) A member of the Board who has an interest in a matter for consideration by the Board shall disclose in writing the nature of that interest and is disqualified from participating in the deliberations of the Board in respect of that matter.

(2) A member who contravenes subsection (1) ceases to be a member.

Declaration of registrable interests

1. 11. (1) Each member of the Board shall, prior to taking office, submit to the Minister a written declaration of that member’s registrable interest whether directly or indirectly owned by the member. (2) A member of the Board shall inform the Authority of any change in respect of that member’s registrable interest from the date of the change.

(3) A member who (a) without reasonable excuse fails to declare a registrable interest, or

(b) knowingly makes a false declaration, contravenes subsections (1) and (2), and ceases to be a member of the Board and the appointment of the member to the Board shall be revoked by the President.

Establishment of committees

1. 12. (1) The Board may establish committees consisting of members of the Board or non-members or both to perform a function. (2) A committee of the Board may be chaired by a member of the Board.

Allowances

1. 13. Members of the Board and members of a committee of the Board shall be paid the allowances approved by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance.

Administrative provisions

Ministerial responsibility and directives

1. 14. (1) The Minister may give written directives to the Board on matters of policy and the Board shall comply.

(2) The Authority shall on the request of the Minister, provide the Minister with advice, recommendations and information that the Minister requires in respect of the duties, powers and functions of the Authority.

Divisions of the Authority

1. 15. The Board shall establish divisions of the Authority for the effective and efficient discharge of the functions of the Authority.

Director-General

1. 16. (1) The President shall, in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution, appoint a Director-General of the Authority who shall be the Chief Executive Officer. (2) The Director-General shall hold office for a period of not more than five years and is eligible for re-appointment. (3) The Director-General shall hold office on the terms and conditions specified in the letter of appointment. (4) The Director-General is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the Authority and is answerable to the Board in the performance of functions under this Act.

(5) The Director-General may delegate a function to the Deputy Director-General or an officer of the Authority but shall not be relieved from the ultimate responsibility for the performance of the delegated function.

Deputy Directors-General

1. 17. (1) The President shall in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution appoint such Deputy Directors-General as are necessary for the performance of the functions of the Authority.

(2) The Deputy Directors-General shall hold office on the terms and conditions specified in the letters of appointment.

(3) The Deputy Directors-General shall act in the absence of the Director-General and perform any other functions determined by the Board.

Secretary

1. 18. (1) The Authority shall have a Secretary appointed by the President in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution.

(2) The Secretary shall hold office on the terms and conditions specified in the letter of appointment.

(3) The Secretary shall (a) facilitate the efficient operation of the Authority’s formal decision-making and reporting processes,

(b) attend meetings of the Board, (c) record and keep the certified minutes of all meetings of the Board,

(d) collect, organise and distribute to members of the Board relevant information and documents for the purpose of meetings of the Board,

(e) advise the Board on matters related to memoranda and presentations for meetings of the Board, and

(f) perform any other function determined by the Board or by the Director-General.

Appointment of other staff

1. 19. (1) The President shall in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution appoint for the Authority other officers and staff that are necessary for the proper and effective performance of its functions. (2) Other public officers may be transferred or seconded to the Authority or may otherwise give assistance to it. (3) The Authority may engage the services of consultants and advisers as it considers necessary for the effective discharge of the functions of the Authority.

Financial provisions Funds of the Authority

1. 20. (1) The funds of the Authority include

(a) fees, charges or any other moneys payable under this Act, or any other enactment,

(b) any moneys provided by Parliament,

(c) donations, grants and gifts,

(d) moneys derived from the investment of the Authority’s funds, and (e) any other moneys that are approved by the Minister responsible for Finance.

(2) The moneys received by or on behalf of the Authority shall be paid into a bank account of the Authority opened by the Board with the approval of the Controller and Accountant-General.

Expenses of the Authority

1. 21. (1) The expenses of the Authority shall be paid from moneys provided for the funds of the Authority.

(2) Where after having defrayed the outstanding expenses, the Authority has an excess amount, the Board shall transfer that amount to the Consolidated Fund unless the Minister for Finance in consultation with the Minister approves the retention by the Authority of a part or the whole of that excess amount.

Accounts and audit

1. 22. (1) The Board shall keep books of account and proper records in relation to them in the form approved by the Auditor-General. (2) The Board shall submit the accounts of the Authority to the Auditor-General for audit within three months after the end of each financial year.

(3) The Auditor-General shall, not later than three months after the receipt of the accounts, audit the accounts and forward a copy of the audit report to the Minister.

(4) The Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658) shall apply to this Act.

(5) The financial year of the Authority shall be the same as the financial year of the Government.

Annual report and other reports

1. 23. (1) The Board shall within one month after the receipt of the audit report, submit an annual report to the Minister covering the activities and the operations of the Authority for the year to which the report relates.

(2) The annual report shall include the report of the Auditor-General and shall be submitted in the form and contain the information set out in the Schedule to this Act.

(3) The Minister shall, within one month after the receipt of the annual report submit the report to Parliament with a statement that the Minister considers necessary.

(4) The Board shall also submit in writing to the Minister any other reports which the Minister may require.

Borrowing powers

1. 24. Subject to the provisions on loans contained in Article 181 of the Constitution and any other enactment, the Authority may obtain loans and other credit facilities on the guarantee of the Government from a bank or financial institution that the Minister for Finance determines.

Miscellaneous provisions

Procedure for decision-making by the Authority

1. 25. (1) In the exercise of its function under this Act and the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) the Board shall (a) observe reasonable standards of procedural fairness,

(b) act timeously, and

(c) observe the rules of natural justice. when making decisions that affect a person.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Board shall (a) publish a matter for decision in the Gazette as considered necessary or as required by the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) prior to making a decision;

(b) grant a person who is or is likely to be affected by a decision of the Board, an opportunity;

(i) to make a submission to the Board,

(ii) to be heard by the Board, or (iii) to consult with the Board in good faith, and

(c) have regard to evidence adduced and matters contained in a submission made or received in the course of any consultation.

(3) Where the Board makes a decision, it shall (a) state in writing the reasons for the decision; and (b) provide in accordance with its procedure; notification of the decision to the relevant persons.

(4) The Board may, on application or on its own motion, review, rescind or vary a decision made by it or hear a matter again before rendering a decision.

Register of interests

1. 26. (1) The Director-General shall cause to be kept and maintained a Register in which shall be recorded details of

(a) any share or debenture owned by a member of the Board; (b) other financial interests a member of the Board has in a corporate body; (c) any public or charitable appointment or directorship held by a member; and (d) any other matter required to be registered.

(2) The Register shall be publicly accessible, in both physical and electronic form.

Code of conduct

1. 27. (1) The Board shall establish within one year of the commencement of this Act, a code of conduct for members of the Board, staff and persons whose services the Authority engages.

(2) The Authority shall revise the code of conduct from time to time having regard to the changing regulatory objectives in the communications industry.

Application

1. 28. This Act binds the Republic.

Regulations

1. 29. The Minister may, on the advice of the Board by legislative instrument make Regulations to

(a) prescribe fees chargeable under this Act;

(b) provide for the forms for applications;

(c) prescribe requirements for authorisations and licences;

(d) prescribe conditions for interconnection of communication systems; (e) provide procedures for the implementation of a system of universal service provision including the quality of service standards;

(f) provide procedures for the use of

(i) network facilities,

(ii) network services,

(iii) applications services,

(iv) content applications services,

(g) provide for emergency or distress circumstances; and (h) provide for any other matter necessary for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Interpretation

1. 30. In this Act, unless the context 'otherwise requires

'Authority' means the National Communications Authority established under section 1;

'Board' means the governing body of the Authority established under section 6;

'communications network' means a communications network used to provide a communications service;

'communications operator' means a person authorised or licenced under this Act to operate a communications network;

'communications supplier' means a person authorised or licenced under this Act to provide communications service;

'Minister' means the Minister responsible for Communications;

'operator' means a person licensed under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) to operate a public communications network;

'registrable interest' means an interest required to be registered in accordance with this Act;.

'service provider' means a person licensed under this Act to provide a public communications service;

'Universal Access Policy' means the eligibility of (a) a person licensed under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) to operate communications network; and (b) a person licensed under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) to provide a communications service; and 'user' means a customer or subscriber of a communications network or a communications or broadcasting service and includes a customer that is an operator of a communications network and a customer that is a provider of a communications service.

Transitional provisions

1. 31. (1) The rights, assets and liabilities accrued in respect of the properties vested in the Authority established under the National Communications Authority Act 1996 (Act 524) immediately before the commencement of this Act and the persons employed by the Authority shall be transferred to the National Communications Authority established under this Act and accordingly proceedings taken by or against the former Authority may be continued by or against the Authority.

(2) A contract subsisting between the former Authority established under the National Communications Authority, 1996 (Act 524) and another person and in effect immediately before the commencement of this Act shall subsist between the Authority under this Act and that other person.

Repeal and savings

1. 32. (1) The National Communications Authority Act, 1996 (Act 524) is hereby repealed.

(2) Despite the repeal of Act 524, any licence, frequency, authorisation, Regulation, notice, order, direction, appointment or any other act lawfully made or done under the repealed enactment and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be considered to have been made or done under this Act and shall continue to have effect until reviewed, cancelled or terminated.

SCHEDULE FORM AND CONTENT OF ANNUAL REPORT

Ref. Part of Report Description 1 Table of contents 2 Index 3 Glossary 4 Contact officer(s) 5 Internet home page address and Internet address for report 6 Review by the Board Review by the board

1. 6.1 Overview description of Authority
2. 6.2 Role and functions Summary of significant issues and development
3. 6.3 Organisational structure
4. 6.4 Overview of the Authority's performance and financial results
5. 6.5 Significant issues and development
6. 6.6 Outlook for the following year

Report on Policy

7 Review of adherence and implementation of policy objectives and measurements of achievement in period.

Report on Performance

8 Review of performance during the year in relation to outputs and contribution to outcomes

1. 8.1 Actual performance in relation to performance targets set in the preceding year
2. 8.2 Where performance targets differ from those set in the preceding year details of both former and new targets, and reason for the change
3. 8.3 Narrative discussion and analysis of performance
4. 8.4 Trend information
5. 8.5 Factors, events or trends influencing the Authority's performance
6. 8.6 Significant changes in nature of principal functions/services
7. 8.7 Performance against service charter customer service standards, complaints data, and the Authority's response to complaints
8. 8.8 Social justice and equity impacts
9. 8.9 Discussion and analysis of the Authority's financial performance
10. 8.10 Discussion of any significant changes from the prior year or from budget
11. 8.11 Summary of resource tables by outcomes
12. 8.12 Developments since the end of the financial year that have affected or may significantly affect the Authority' operations or financial results in future

Interconnection Agreements

9 Number of interconnection agreements submitted to the Authority's and the names of parties to the Agreements

Licences and Authorisations

10 Applications for licences received and number of licences granted and names of beneficiaries, licence revoked or suspended.

11 Numbers issued

12 Frequencies issued

Fees collected

14 Management Accountability 15 Corporate Governance Statement of the main corporate governance practice in place

1. 15.1 Names of the senior executives and their responsibilities
2. 15.2 Senior management committees and their roles
3. 15.3 Board Committees established or in existence and their roles
4. 15.4 Corporate and operational planning and associated performance reporting and review
5. 15.5 Approach adapted to identifying areas of significant financial or operational risk and arrangements in place to manage risks
6. 15.6 Certification of fraud measures in place
7. 15.7 Policy and practices on the establishment and maintenance of appropriate ethical standards
8. 15.8 How nature and amount of remuneration for senior executive service employees is determined

Code of conduct for directors any change

External Scrutiny

17 Management of Human Assessment of effectiveness in managing and developing human resources to achieve, staff turnover and retention

1. 17.1 Workforce planning, staff turnover and retention
2. 17.2 Training and development undertaken and their impact
3. 17.3 Occupational health and safety performance
4. 17.4 Productivity gains
5. 17.5 Statistics on staffing
6. 17.6 Performance pay

Purchasing

19 Assessment of purchasing against core policies and principles

Assets management

20 Assessment of effectiveness of assets management

Consultants and Competitive Tendering

20 Number and nature of consultancy services and contracts and total expenditure on consultancy services.

1. 20.1 Competitive tendering and contracting contracts awarded and outcomes
2. 20.2 For all contracts indication of how the provisions of the Public Procurement Act were followed.

Providing access to Report on performance in implementing the Disability people with disabilities Strategy or ensuring compliance with the Disability Act.

Financial Statements Audited Financial Statements

Other Information

1. 23.1 Occupational health and safety
2. 23.2 Freedom of Information
3. 23.3 Advertising and Market Research
4. 23.4 Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

Research sponsored and effect

Human Resource Capacity holding initiatives and outcomes

Other Discretionary Grants

1. 24.1 Correction of material errors in previous annual report

Date of Gazette notification: 9th January, 2009.

GOVERNMENT PRINTER, ASSEMBLY PRESS, ACCRA. GPCI A675/3001l1l2008