Major telecommunications operator, Glo Mobile has decided to pull out of Ghana, an authoritative source close to the company has disclosed. Daily Sun gathered over the weekend that the telecommunications giant has decided to divest its investment in the country and exit Ghana as it faces several challenges from some interests bent on sabotaging the company's nationwide take off plan.

A source close to the company disclosed that some of the challenges the company has faced since it was awarded a GSM licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA) included an encroachment on the frequency allocated to it by the NCA, the repeated and organised sabotage of its billboards and the delay in securing approval for the swift deployment of its infrastructures like base stations.

It was gathered that officials of the company are concerned that while they have been working at a frenetic pace to formally roll-out the network, some forces have been deliberately working round the clock to cripple its operation and prevent it from rolling out quickly to the detriment of the Ghanaian society.

Derek Okpobi, a senior official of Glo Mobile Ghana, said "the frustrations are getting out of control. We have considered pulling out". Another source close to the company said the operator's management felt that its infrastructures in the country are not getting adequate protection from the law enforcement agencies. Efforts to get the official reaction of the company to the development proved abortive but it was gathered that the company will soon serve the government its notice to quit.

The source which was privy to the outcome of a meeting held by senior management staff of the company on the issues, said the company was displeased with the various acts of vandalism, and would have felt relieved if the law enforcement agencies had apprehended the perpetrators and exposed them. Glo Mobile Ghana recently embarked on a massive deployment of outdoor advertising structures comprising billboards, light boxes, lamppost signs and brand marks (branded lit globes) throughout Accra as part of the build-up towards the nationwide launch of the company’s operations in Ghana.

However, immediately after the deployment of the outdoor advertising materials which generated a lot of positive remarks, a number of the outdoor structures have been vandalised by unknown persons. In February, about 15 light boxes mounted from the Airport traffic light median to the Opeibea House traffic light, were deliberately destroyed with the flexi materials used on both sides of the unit torn. One of the Glo brand marks, mounted in Accra was also destroyed. About two weeks ago, light boxes numbering about 16, from the King Tackie Tawiah overpass to Busy Internet, installed by Glo, were also vandalised. "Every single unit, with materials made from top grade flexi, was defaced with a sharp object, suspected to be a knife or razor blade", disclosed a source.

"It was curious that light boxes belonging to another telecom operator, deployed within the same stretch, continuing from Busy Internet to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, were left unscathed", said the source. In December last year, some people were also apprehended and handed over to the Police while attempting to sabotage a Glo mast located in Baatsona area of Accra. "It is clear that these acts of lawlessness are deliberate and are being perpetrated to frustrate Glo's rollout plans", said a source close to the company. Another major area of concern for Glo, it was learnt, is the blanket ban on erection of mast by the National Environmental Protection Agency. The development was said to have affected Glo the most being the only network building a nationwide telecoms company from the scratch.

"You see, Glo is losing opportunity to make revenue for everyday there is a delay in launching its network. I believe that is why they are worried", said a source. Since Glo was granted a licence to operate in Ghana, it has invested huge resources to deploy a nationwide state-of-the art infrastructure. It has also devoted millions of dollars to the sponsorship of the Ghana Premier League, the Ghana National Football Teams and the Ghana National Supporters Union. An investment expert who preferred anonymity said it will be a major setback to the effort of the government to attract direct foreign investment, generate employment and stimulate economic growth if Glo should pull out of Ghana. He urged the government to intervene on the issue. At a recent presentation of cheques by Glo to the Ghana Football Association for the impressive performance of the Black Stars at the last edition of the African Cup of Nations, the Minister of Communications assured that the government would give Glo all the support it requires to enable it roll out its services.

Some Ghanaians have reacted to the development. In a comment posted by a group tagged "glosupportgrp" on myjoyonline.com, the official website of one of Ghana's most popular radio station tagged, 'Glo should stay', the group said, "Glo shd know that the majority of Ghanaians are behind them. These other operators who are only interested in robbing Ghanaians will never stop at anything in preventing Glo from coming in."
In another comment, Efemo posted on myjoyonline, "Why are they afraid of competition? I’m sure they are aware that GLO would sweep the market. Please allow GLO to feel free to operate in Ghana. However, Hey GLO! he who runs away from a fight lives to fight another day. So stay on and fight to the end that's the spirit. All the best!"

In a similar vein, Amarteifio in a comment posted on peaceonline.com said:
"This is serious. We were all looking forward to using GLO. The wicked will not win! We will support you, GLO!".