In a bid to ease communication expenses for travelers between their borders, Benin and Ghana are poised to roll out free roaming starting July 1, 2024.

The agreement, formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week in Cotonou, involves Benin’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Post Office (ARCEP) and Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA).

According to ARCEP’s statement released on Sunday, March 31, the implementation of this MOU will trigger a substantial drop in tariffs for both Beninese and Ghanaian consumers during roaming activities.

Beyond merely reducing costs, this initiative holds the promise of facilitating the protocol on the free movement of people, goods, and services, thereby fostering more active citizen engagement in regional economic endeavors.

Ghana’s proactive stance on this front is evident in its existing free-roaming agreements with fellow ECOWAS countries, such as Cote D’Ivoire and Togo, which are already operational. Similarly, neighboring nations like Togo and Niger have initiated discussions to follow suit, with expectations of reaching similar agreements shortly.