Improve network coverage in rural areas …Northern Regional Minister tells MTN

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John Mburidiba, has urged the telecommunications company MTN Ghana to enhance its network coverage in rural regions to boost communication, commerce, and access to digital services. Reliable connectivity is vital for the development of education, healthcare, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and security, given the central role digital technology plays in socio-economic progress, the minister emphasized.

During a visit to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale, MTN's Senior Manager for Base Station Subsystems, Mr Emmanuel Afutu, discussed network operations and collaboration to improve service delivery. Mr Mburidiba commended MTN Ghana for its contributions to the nation's development, particularly in education, entrepreneurship, digital skills training, and community advancement. However, he highlighted that some rural areas still struggle to obtain dependable network services.

The absence of stable network connectivity can detrimentally impact communication, education, commerce, financial transactions, and information access, among other socio-economic activities, the minister stressed. By improving connectivity, businesses and young people in rural areas would have more opportunities to engage in the digital economy.

Mr Mburidiba called on MTN to accelerate its efforts in expanding its network infrastructure and enhancing service quality, especially in remote communities. He assured the company of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council's dedication to collaborating with MTN to tackle network-related issues and foster initiatives that will benefit regional development.

Mr Afutu, for his part, explained that the visit was part of activities commemorating MTN Ghana's 30th anniversary, offering the company a chance to interact with stakeholders, evaluate network performance, and strengthen partnerships with institutions and communities throughout the region. MTN Ghana's corporate social responsibility initiatives include scholarships for students, training programs for SMEs, and support for digital skills development through the One Million Coders initiative.

The company is also collaborating with security agencies to safeguard customers, network infrastructure, and telecommunication services. Afutu promised MTN would cooperate closely with the NRCC and other stakeholders to resolve network challenges in rural communities across Ghana.