The government has no immediate plans to grant license to any more companies to operate in the mobile telephone sector of the economy, Mr. John Mahama, said in Accra over the weekend.

He said the government does not intend to offer new licences to any companies to operate alongside Ghana Telecom, Western Telesystems Limited (Westel), Scancom Ghana Limited (Spacefon), Celltel Ghana Limited and Millicom Ghana (Mobitel) who are already in the system.

Mr. Mahama said the new directive to limit the number of operators is due to the limited Ghanaian market adding that South Africa, with a larger market has only three providers.

The Minister said, however, that Ghana Telecom has been licensed to operate mobile telecommunication system beginning early next year using the GSM technology.

He said the company has the facilities and the technology saying "there is no need to limit its operations."

Mr. Mahama dismissed the suspicion and perception that Ghana Telecom is intentionally sabotaging efforts of competitors by offering them poor networks.

"The problem was not anticipated. Many of the other companies have expanded so fast. We are sorting it out, more larger allocations have been granted and this has resulted in improved services by mobile companies of late."