As Kenya successfully integrated mobile number portability (MNP) into the country recently, allowing users to switch networks and maintain their current phone number, Ghana is looking at their example as a way of planning for a similar project to be launched on July 1. The country's MNP consultant to the National Communication Authority (NCA) Bob Palitz said that Ghana is “on track for the July launch.” He continued to say that confidence on MNP is high and that “stakeholders comprising of the NCA, the telecom operators and Porting Access Ghana (PXS) have designed what promises to be the best MNP process in the world today.” Analysts say that following Kenya's example should be a great way of ensuring that the country does not fall victim to the ills that have plagued other African countries telecom markets in recent months. Jonathan Terry, a British telecom consultant who assisted Kenya on their portability efforts, said that “Ghana has learned a lot from how African countries have gone about this and I have no doubt they will take the Kenyan model and work it into a solid system.” On May 4, the system was pre-tested between operators and the initial results were positive. PXS Ghana chief Saqib Nazir told reporters that the system may not be “full proof, but it is an indication of the commitment of all 6 operators to MNP.” BM
