Globacom may leave Ghana
By Ezra Ijioma
Sunday, 4 Jul 2010


There are indications that Globacom may leave Ghana if the authorities fail to honour their promise to protect its investment there.


Reports indicate that Globacom, one of Nigeria‘s biggest telecommunications network is receiving hostile treatment in Ghana as the company has had its advertising structures damaged and telecommunications equipment vandalised.


There are also official restrictions on the erection of the firm’s communication masts.


Globacom‘s Media Relations Officer in Nigeria, Mr. Bode Opeseitan, confirmed this ugly development, but said the Ghanaian government had agreed to address the issue.


He said, ”In fact, it was a Ghanaian newspaper that broke the story that Glo is contemplating leaving Ghana before Ghanaian officials now approached Glo last month and said ‘wait, whatever problems there are, we will sort them out‘.


”We believe in the government‘s promise and hope that it fulfils it. When our mast was sabotaged in December last year, the Ghana Police arrested the culprit and the case is still on. Even the issue of official restriction in erection of masts in certain areas will be addressed as the government promised.


”We are a proudly African company and the Ghanaian government needs foreign investments and would not want to lose Glo and its investments,” he added.


Recently, there has been increasing hostility towards Nigerian businesses in Ghana despite Nigerians accounting for over 60 per cent of foreign investments there. Ghana government last month imposed a $30,000 fee on any new business by Nigerians and its film industry has ruled that Nigerian actors featuring in Ghanaian movies must pay a $1,000 fee.


Early this year, Director, Marketing and Public Relations, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Edward Ashong-Lartey, acknowledged that the country was currently experiencing some challenges in the areas of security, high interest rates, bank charges and inadequate power generation (1,850-mega watts) that may discourage investors, but noted that the government was working seriously on ways to address the issues.


Globacom which began operations in Ghana in December 2009, has faced many hostile acts which include encroachment on the frequency allocated to it, the sabotage of its billboards, light boxes, lamp post signs and other equipment geared towards the inauguration of its full operation.


It will be recalled that last February, more than 12 light boxes placed around Accra International Airport traffic light median were destroyed and in May, more than 14 light boxes were destroyed in Accra metropolis.


Also, the Ghanaian environmental protection agency banned the erection of communication masts in some major areas, and this has affected Globacom adversely since it is still a new telecoms company and needs to acquire as much coverage as possible.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201007044401840

i wonder what they are doing in ghana. that country is just not 1/4 of naija period.

They are giving customers completely useless services here. Instead of them to fix things here in Nigeria, they are busy trying to launch their useless services elsewhere. I don't blame those destroying their stuff, they've probably heard/read about the poor service and don't want them in their country.