Selorm Adadevoh, CEO of MTN Ghana
SCANCOM PLC, operators of MTN Ghana Limited, have withdrawn a legal action initiated against the National Communications Authority (NCA) at the Supreme Court.
MTN went to the apex court to challenge the decision of an Accra high court which upheld the classification of MTN by the NCA as Significant Market Power (SMP) which in a way limited the service provider’s market dominance in Ghana.
The high court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, a court of appeal judge sitting with additional responsibilities on September 2020, dismissed MTN’s application for a judicial review of the declaration by the NCA on MTN Ghana as SMP.
Not satisfied with the decision, MTN went to the Supreme Court seeking a judicial review of the high court’s decision.
But appearing before the court yesterday, Samuel Codjoe, lead counsel for MTN, told the court that they wished to withdraw all the applications before the court against NCA.
He told the court that there had been some stakeholder consultations and therefore, wished to withdraw the entire legal action.
The court presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and assisted by Justices Yaw Appau, Gabriel Pwamang, Tanko Amadu and Yonny Kulendi struck out the application as withdrawn.
Statement
MTN in a statement after the court proceedings noted that “given the progress made so far, in good faith, on settlement discussions with the NCA and Ministry of Communications, the company has withdrawn its application filed at the Supreme Court on September 4, 2020. It is our expectation that this action will pave the way for further discussions and an amicable resolution in the spirit of the renewed channels of engagement.”
“MTN Ghana identifies that a collective goodwill and commitment is necessary to help the entire industry thrive and support government’s agenda to enhance connectivity and the availability of communication services in the country. We are convinced that this decision is in the best interest of our cherished customers, shareholders and other stakeholders,” it noted.
It added that “MTN Ghana will like to reassure its cherished customers and shareholders that our commitment to the delivery of a bold new digital world in Ghana continues to be resolute.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak