Accra, Ghana – The Reverend Dr. Nanayaa Tina Owusu Prempeh, Board Chair of the Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR), has voiced her frustration over the long-standing issue of the ‘.gh domain' registry being taken over by Ghana.com for the past 27 years.
This takeover has hindered access to the internet space for Ghanaians, limiting potential profits for the country and internet user security.
Speaking at the Second Edition of the 2023 Domain Name System (DNS) Forum, Rev. Dr. Owusu Prempeh emphasized the urgency of the matter.
“This discussion has become like a taboo in the industry, but I have broken the ice,” she stated. “It is my responsibility to ensure redelegation is done, so the nation can benefit.”
Rev. Dr Owusu Prempeh added, “But we have an individual in Ghana, who has sat on it for 27 years like a God sitting on it and making things difficult for redelegation to be done, that is the bottom line. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, that is the bottom line.”
The GDNR was established under the Electronic Transactions Act of 2008 to administer and manage the country's domain name space. However, the Board's efforts have been stymied because an individual has refused to release the domain name.
This situation has had a profound impact on Ghana, as the country, with a population of 30 million, has only one registrar, while Rwanda, with 13.6 million people, boasts 70 registrars. This disparity has significantly impeded the country's potential profit from the internet space.
Rev. Dr. Owusu Prempeh called upon stakeholders in the sector to address this challenge urgently, as it affects not only the GDNR but also the entire nation's digital prospects.