Komla Buami (2nd L) in a group photograph with journalists
Telecommunications operators in Ghana have lost more than $69 million over the past four years due to persistent fibre cuts and theft of telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
The Director of External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Komla Buami, disclosed this in an interview with DAILY GUIDE on the sidelines of a roundtable media discussion held in Kumasi.
According to him, fibre cuts remain one of the biggest challenges confronting network operators, affecting service delivery and causing huge financial losses.
Mr. Buami explained that apart from road construction activities, deliberate acts of vandalism by some individuals have contributed significantly to the destruction of fibre cables.
He noted that while some people previously targeted copper cables for theft, others now deliberately damage fibre installations, causing major disruptions to telecommunications services.
“On average, we experience between three and nine fibre cuts every day. The cost of repairing them is enormous, and the impact on customers is even greater because each cut affects millions of people who rely on internet and voice services,” he told DAILY GUIDE.
He indicated that repairing damaged fibre cables is often a difficult and time-consuming process because engineers must first identify the exact location of the fault before restoration work can commence.
The Telecel official also expressed concern over the theft of aluminium covers used to protect fibre installations, saying the practice has created additional operational challenges for the industry.
Mr. Buami called on members of the public to support efforts to protect telecommunications infrastructure, stressing that safeguarding fibre networks is a shared responsibility.
“We are appealing to everyone, including contractors and community members, to become watchdogs and help protect these critical national assets,” he stated.
He disclosed that Telecel has held discussions with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ghana Highway Authority, and the Ministry of Communications to find lasting solutions to the growing problem of fibre cuts.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration among stakeholders would help reduce the incidents significantly.
Touching on theft, Mr. Buami said criminals continue to target telecommunications facilities despite existing security arrangements, stealing generators and other valuable equipment from operational sites.
According to him, such thefts affect service delivery and leave customers without connectivity.
He therefore appealed to security agencies to include telecommunications installations in their routine surveillance operations to help curb the menace.
Mr. Buami assured customers that Telecel’s security teams are actively monitoring the situation and strengthening protection around its infrastructure.
He added that some arrests have been made in connection with previous cases of vandalism and theft, while additional security measures are being implemented to prevent future incidents.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi