Ghana's national IT regulator, established under Act 771.
NITA exists to create an enabling environment for the effective deployment and use of information technology by every sector — public, private and civic.
Who we are
The National Information Technology Agency was established by the National Information Technology Agency Act, 2008 (Act 771) as the ICT policy implementing and regulatory body of the Republic of Ghana.
Where the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations sets direction, NITA turns that direction into standards, licences and running infrastructure. The agency is accountable for the systems that public institutions depend on daily — the network between them, the data centre beneath them, and the trust services that make their transactions legally sound.
That dual role — regulator and operator — is deliberate. It keeps the standards realistic, because the agency writing them also has to run to them.
Vision
A transparent, fair and innovative IT ecosystem in which every stakeholder is protected and competition is genuine.
Mission
To create the conditions for effective ICT deployment across all sectors through sound policy-making and a robust regulatory framework.
What the agency does
Regulate
Accredit IT providers, certify professionals, license hosting operators and enforce standards across the public sector.
Operate
Run the eGovernment network, the National Data Centre, the national PKI and GovCert as shared national services.
Advise
Support the Ministry and Cabinet with technical advice on ICT policy, architecture and investment decisions.
Build capacity
Train CIOs, technical officers, legislators and magistrates on the operation and law of digital systems.
Mandate of the agency
NITA was established to implement government's ICT policy initiatives and to regulate ICTs. Act 771 gives it the mandate to regulate information communications technology and to offer related services. Under section 2 of the Act, the object of the agency is to:
- 01
Regulate the provision of information communications technology.
- 02
Ensure the provision of quality information communications technology.
- 03
Promote standards of efficiency.
- 04
Ensure high quality of service.
The agency is also required to implement and enforce the provisions of Act 771, the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772) and the regulations made under them (section 3.1d).
Statutory functions
The functions set out in the Act, grouped by the work they involve.
Certification & licensing
- Perform the functions of the certifying agency established under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772).
- Issue licences under Act 771 and ensure fair competition among licence holders.
- Maintain registers of licences and applications for licences, and of equipment approvals under Act 772.
- Provide access to those registers except where commercial confidentiality does not allow it.
- Collect the fees and other charges payable to the agency under the Act.
Compliance & enforcement
- Implement and enforce Act 771, Act 772 and the regulations made under them.
- Monitor, enforce and ensure effective compliance with the conditions contained in licences and tariffs.
- Establish quality of service indicators and reporting requirements for licence holders.
- Carry out investigations into conduct contrary to the Act, on its own initiative or at another person's request.
- Obtain from persons the information necessary for the performance of its functions.
Disputes & consumer redress
- Investigate and resolve disputes between licence holders referred to the agency.
- Investigate complaints by users who fail to obtain redress from a licence holder.
- Determine complaints involving anti-competitive, price-fixing and unfair trade practices.
Policy & governance
- Implement, monitor and ensure the systematic implementation of national ICT policy.
- Issue and publish the necessary guidelines and standards on its website and in the Gazette.
- Formulate the strategy of the agency and ensure the Minister's policy directions are implemented.
- Establish the policy and resource framework for operations and overall strategic direction.
- Uphold high standards of propriety, good corporate governance and efficient use of resources and staff.
How we work with stakeholders
Standards that nobody was consulted on do not survive contact with practice. Every major directive NITA issues is put to the institutions and operators it binds, with a published consultation window and a report of comments before it takes effect.