Accra, June 10, GA – The National Communications Authority (NCA) has established a 9 member dispute resolution committee (DRC) to deal with disputes in the communication industry.
The committee is chaired by a former Adjunct Professor at Webster University Ghana campus and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Mr Patric Boateng.
The DRC registry to be located at the NCA Tower will be open to the public on July 1,2024.
The Board chairman of NCA, Okatakyie Ababio Boakye Danquah II said for the first few months, there will be no filing fees for the submission of claims.
Other members of the committee are Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah, the member of Parliament for the Juaben constituency, Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Executive and Technical Director of Media and Strategic Communications at the Office of the President, and member of the National Media Commission, Prince Hari Crystal.
Others are Kofi Owusu-Nhyira; An IT and Telecommunications Expert, Kusum Appiah, a Professional secretary and Lawyer, Golda Sowah Adjei, a social development activist and lawyer, Nana Adjoa Adobea Asante.
The Board chairman said the use of an avenue outside the adversarial court system should be encouraged, adding that the establishment of the DRC was in line with the electronic communications Act, 2008, (Act 775).
He said disputes were more likely to be amicably resolved when the arbiter applies industry knowledge and understanding of the rudiments of business.
Okatakyie Ababio noted that the NCA would begin a sensitisation programme including the publication of guidelines on their website on procedures for initiation of claims, among others.
A fully functional DRC complex would later be put up with caucus rooms, realtime transcription of hearings and automated translation among others, he diclosed and urged the public to make good use of the avenue created.
The Board Chairman charged the committee to be guided by the tenets of the 1992 Constitution, ensuring high moral standards and proven integrity in the discharge of their adjudicatory roles.
The Director General of NCA, Mr Joe Anokye said the DRC was not to replace the consumer complaints centre but to serve as another avenue to deal with disputes.
GA
