Power subsidies crucial to tame rising mobile tariffs – Telecel Group CEO

Telecommunication companies are asking the government for help. They want targeted interventions to reduce power costs. This is crucial for growth in the digital economy.

Moh Damush, Group CEO of Telecel, highlighted the issue. He said power costs are a major challenge for telecom pricing in Ghana and Africa. "Power resources significantly impact prices for customers and operations," he stated.

He explained that sustainable connectivity requires three investment layers in Africa. In Europe, only one layer is needed. This situation pressures private companies to invest more while facing power outages.

In an interview with Citi Business News, Damush discussed energy expenses. These costs affect data pricing, especially where power supply is unreliable. This makes it hard to provide affordable connectivity to underserved areas.

He suggested two ways to address these issues. One way is through government support to attract investments. These investments can benefit various sectors, including telecom.

Another approach is subsidizing power costs for energy-intensive industries like telecommunications. This would improve service quality while still generating revenue for the government.

Thousands of business leaders are attending the 2025 Africa CEO Forum. They are discussing strategies for investment reforms and policy alignment to boost the private sector.

Makta Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, spoke at the opening on May 12, 2025. He emphasized mobilizing private capital to create jobs and improve infrastructure.

The two-day forum will conclude on May 13, 2025. It will feature a key policy debate among candidates for leadership positions at the African Development Bank (AfDB).

– Nii Larte Lartey reporting from Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
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