CUTS International has raised concerns over what it describes as the unfair practice of sudden price increases by Telecel, citing limited prior communication to consumers.
This follows recent announcements by Telecel Ghana of upward adjustments to its service prices.
Specifically, Telecel announced on Friday, April 25, that the price of its One Family Large Plan would rise to GHS570 for 485GB, with the new pricing set to take effect on Monday, April 28—just two days after the announcement.
The consumer advocacy group noted that this is not an isolated incident, recalling that just a month ago, MultiChoice Ghana Ltd, operators of DStv, gave subscribers less than one week’s notice of a price hike.
In a statement, CUTS International stressed that respect for consumer rights is fundamental to a healthy market environment, particularly for services that are prepaid and renewed regularly.
“This last-minute communication reflects an emerging trend within Ghana’s telecommunications sector, where service providers frequently give consumers limited notice ahead of price changes.“
While CUTS International acknowledges that operators may adjust pricing in response to market conditions and operational costs, it is essential that such changes are communicated in a timely and transparent manner—particularly for services that operate on a prepaid, subscription-based model,” part of the statement noted.
In response to these developments, CUTS International has urged the National Communications Authority (NCA) to establish clear regulatory guidelines to protect consumers.
“In light of these developments, CUTS International is calling on the National Communications Authority (NCA) to establish clear regulatory guidelines requiring telecom and pay-TV service providers to give consumers reasonable and fair notice—ideally not less than 30 days—before implementing any price adjustments,” the statement added.
