NPP backs 4G rural upgrade, urges government to connect unserved communities first

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has endorsed the government's initiative to modernize rural telephony infrastructure with a minimum 4G upgrade, but the party is advocating for the government to prioritize communities that still lack connectivity. The NPP believes that faster and more reliable connectivity is essential as Ghana expands digital services nationwide, and they note that the rural telephony infrastructure from the previous administration can accommodate future upgrades.

However, the party stresses that the government's immediate focus should be on completing projects already constructed and deploying already procured equipment. The NPP argues that by prioritizing technology upgrades before finishing basic connectivity, governments risk leaving unserved communities waiting even longer for access.

"A community that has no service at all gains nothing from a decision about whether it should eventually receive 3G or 4G," the party stated. The NPP warns that a 4G upgrade program that precedes the completion of existing projects could exacerbate telecommunications service inequality. They urge the government to disclose details about the sequencing, financing, and costs of the proposed 4G upgrade, and to demonstrate that the upgrade program will not hinder the completion of outstanding rural connectivity projects.

The party believes that expanding the network to 4G should complement, not replace, efforts to provide basic connectivity to communities still without service.