The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications is making a strong case for cheaper power to telecommunication services in the country.

The chamber says it has noted with grave concern, more expensive access to power by telecom firms – a situation that is causing the industry’s huge operating cost.

Chief Executive Officer, Ing. Dr. Ken Ashigbey, therefore called on the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to consider a review of the tariffs for the telecoms industry, indicating that telecommunication has become an essential service in the country.

He said “telecommunication has now become a human right and a utility, hence we need to ensure that we all work together to ensure that that service is available.”

“If that is the case, then we can’t have it that the cost of power to be able to generate one bit of data is more expensive than the cost of power to chill a drink at home,” Dr. Ashigbey added.

He also indicated that his outfit is putting a proposal on the subject matter together for the PURC’s attention and consideration.

He spoke at the 21st Knowledge Forum organised by the Chamber on the theme, “Empowering Consumers through clean energy transitions.”

The forum brought together players in the telecommunications and energy sector to deliberate on promoting clean energy transitions and ensuring that the telecoms industry remains sustainable and resilient.

Speaking on the theme, Dr. Ashigbey, admonished the general public to use energy-efficient gadgets including mobile phones in order to support the country’s energy conservation plans.

“The consumer should know that they are not bystanders, they also have a role to play in terms of the devices they choose”, he said.

The forum featured a 4-member panel discussion.

Government’s plans to rollout net-metering systems in the country heralded the event.

Head of Renewable Energy Desk Dr. Eric Effah-Donyina of power distribution company, Nedco highlighted, the importance of a power audit during the installation of solar panel.

“You cannot talk about having solar rooftop on your facility and a net-metered one without talking to the distribution utilities. Because if you want it net-metered, you need the grid to get the solar system working and the reason is that our network is not uniformly robust, it has got challenges on a few transformer notes”, he said.

Meanwhile, Director, Energy Services, at the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission, Ing. Frederick Oblittey hinted at government’s plans being harnessed to improve penetration of renewal energy which is currently hovering around 1.0%.