Shaping future: NCA’s strategic plan, impact on evolving industry

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector continues to play an important role in supporting rapid and sustainable economic growth, equitable social development and job creation. 

It is in this vein that development of strategies has become crucial in the bid to seize new opportunities and effectively overcome challenges.

In an era of rapid technological advancements, where industries are constantly evolving, earlier this year, the National Communications Authority (NCA) unveiled its transformative Five-Year Strategic Plan for the period 2024-2028.

The launch of the plan marked a significant milestone in the Authority's journey and it was unveiled at a time when the telecommunications and digital landscape was not only evolving but becoming central to the nation's economic growth.

It is apparent that the leadership of the Authority understands the necessity of continuous innovation and strategic foresight to navigate this fast-paced industry. This is relevant because without a laid down action plan, it is very easy for the most driven individual to get side-tracked.

It is for this reason that the NCA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan presents a forward-thinking roadmap to navigating the complexities of Ghana's rapidly evolving ICT landscape. By anchoring its vision on innovation, collaboration and inclusivity, the Plan has the potential to drive transformative growth.

Added to this, emphasising the roles of diverse stakeholders and outlining a collaborative roadmap will ensure that every sector has a vested interest in the Plan's success.

The Plan is not just a roadmap; it is a blueprint that will guide the NCA to move from being a good Regulator to a Great Regulator over the next five years; it will serve as a guide for subsequent boards irrespective of political leanings.

Additionally, it positions the Authority to push the digital agenda, encouraging innovation, and providing fair access to ICT for all citizens. It also sets out ambitious goals to propel Ghana's communications sector to new heights, ensuring that the NCA remains at the forefront of regulatory excellence, innovation and consumer welfare.

Strategic Plan

The Authority, in a quest to achieve its long-term obligation, between December 2022 and April 2023 embarked on an assignment to produce a comprehensive Strategic Plan that will detail the NCA’s goals, objectives and strategies for a five-year period spanning 2024 to 2028.

It employed a wide consultative approach by bringing on board the combined expectations of all internal and external stakeholders, and taking into consideration the need for the Authority to re-invent itself in the light of new and developing digital electronic communications globally, meet the needs of consumers and to sustain the existence of the NCA.

It is important to note that this is the very first ever Strategic Plan that the NCA has developed under its own steam.

Integrating regional, international strategies

The development of the Plan was not done in a vacuum. However, it took inspiration from the key deliverables of the current Board Strategy. It also took into consideration prescriptions and strategies of the national, regional and international development agenda.

At the national level, this Strategic Plan ensured that it is in sync with Ghana’s Development Plan, namely: the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies 2021-2025 (CPESDP); National Digital Economy Policy; and the Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A).

At the international level, the Plan aligns with the Mission of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 9 and 12).

Transformational mission

The Strategic Plan is not just about regulatory excellence; it is about transforming the NCA into a more impactful force within the communications sector.

As a forward-looking institution, the NCA aims to elevate its status from a "Good Regulator" to a "Great Regulator" over the next five years. This ambitious vision is embedded in the updated Mission Statement of the Authority, which reflects a commitment to professional and proactive regulation that aligns with global best practices.

It is worth noting that while the NCA maintained its vision, it has recast its Mission Statement for the next five years as: Moving from Good to a Great Regulator: An innovative, agile, professional and proactive regulator, adaptive to emerging changes in the communication and digital eco-system, and delivering optimally to all its stakeholders.

This goal will be achieved by the implementation of strategic activities under four strategic pillars. 

Core pillars

As the Regulator reviews the evolving nature of the industry and looks at the expectations of its stakeholders, it cannot stay complacent. It requires audacious goals to drive it into the future.

These audacious goals are enshrined in the four strategic pillars outlined below:

I. Research, innovation, process improvement: The communications sector is fast-paced, with new technologies and business models emerging continuously. The NCA considers research as a crucial driver to reducing the gap between the industry’s technological leaps and regulation.

The NCA is therefore committed to fostering a culture of innovation by prioritising research and improving internal processes to stay ahead of industry trends. This will include efforts to adopt cutting-edge technologies while improving regulatory frameworks to support emerging digital ecosystems.

Fostering innovation in an industry that is constantly changing and evolving such as the telecom and digitalisation space is more important now than ever. Consequently, the Regulator that can innovate effectively is able to devise new policies, products, services and regulatory models that can assist them to be abreast with the industry. 

II. Stakeholder coordination, engagement: Collaboration is central to the NCA's strategic vision. The Plan emphasizes strengthening partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and private sector players.

This collaborative approach will ensure the effective implementation of policies that benefit all sectors of the communications industry.

The overall purpose of this pillar is to ensure that a consistent, comprehensive and coordinated approach is taken for stakeholder engagement internally and externally. To ensure that this achieved, the Authority will engage in relationships and partnerships building and the stakeholder map will form the basis of this stakeholder engagement.

Also, information and knowledge sharing platforms in the form of dialogue forums, virtual pages and dedicated software dashboards will be developed to facilitate work, demonstrate transparency and ensure understanding and compliance among stakeholders. 

III. Human Resource Strengthening: One of the most significant pillars of the Strategic Plan is focused on empowering the Authority's workforce since a solid human resource base will be crucial in driving the success of the other strategic pillars.

By enhancing staff welfare, boosting morale, reducing attrition, and providing professional development opportunities, the NCA seeks to create a highly motivated, skilled and productive team. 

Consumer and Corporate Affairs Division,
National Communications Authority (NCA),
Airport City, Accra.