• Metascholar News Portal
• Africa , Local News , Tech
• May 19, 2025
• 3499 views
• 3 minutes Read

Telecom Chamber Calls for Legislation to Enable Prosecution of Fibre Optic Cable Vandals

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has forged a strategic partnership with the Office of the Attorney General to combat the growing menace of fibre optic cable damage, which is inflicting heavy financial and operational losses on telecom operators. This collaboration seeks to secure a legal fiat that would empower the Chamber to initiate legal proceedings against individuals and construction firms whose actions result in cable cuts. Highlighting the severity of the situation, the Chamber disclosed that more than 5,600 cases of fibre cuts were recorded in 2024, leading to estimated losses of GH¢138 million for the industry. Each incident costs approximately US$23,000 to repair, aside from the reputational damage and service disruptions experienced by consumers across the country. Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, attributed the majority of these damages to the activities of road and drainage contractors, private developers, and cable thieves. “While some of the damage is accidental caused by construction and development works others stem from criminal attempts to steal what they mistakenly believe to be copper cables, only to discover they are fibre optics made of glass. But by then, the harm is already done,” Dr. Ashigbey explained. He further identified other risk factors, including overloaded vehicles damaging aerial fibre lines and illegal mining activities, which often affect underground cable installations in mining-prone communities. In response to these persistent threats, the Chamber has been engaging the Attorney General’s Department to secure a fiat similar to the one granted to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) that would permit the Chamber to prosecute offenders directly. Dr. Ashigbey noted that while the previous Attorney General had agreed to assign state attorneys for this purpose, the Chamber has since renewed discussions with the current administration to maintain momentum. “We are training selected attorneys to handle these prosecutions effectively. The goal is to ensure offenders are held accountable and deter further incidents,” he added. Meanwhile, in a related development, the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry has also entered the conversation, calling for better coordination between telecom operators and construction firms. Chief Executive Officer of the Construction Chamber, Emmanuel Cherry, acknowledged the frustrations of contractors who often face delays when attempting to collaborate with utility providers. “Contractors operate under strict timelines and project constraints. When we alert telecom companies about potential infrastructure conflicts, we expect prompt feedback. Unfortunately, delays in communication sometimes lead to unintentional damage and stalled projects,” Cherry noted, urging both sectors…