Communication Minister Inspects Rural Telephony Projects In Sekyere Afram Plains
Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation and the Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Mr. Rashid Tanko, have inspected Rural Telephony Projects in four communities in the Sekyere Afram Plains District in the Ashanti Region to assess the progress of work and the way forward. […] The post Communication…
The Communication Minister for Ghana, Samuel Nartey George, and the Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko, recently visited rural telephony projects in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of the Ashanti Region. Their inspection aimed to assess the progress of work and plan future actions.
The team inspected sites at Nyameama No. 1 and No. 2, Abanua, and Dawia. Minister George reported that Dawia will be operational immediately, while Abanua, Nyameama No. 1, and No. 2 should be powered by the end of the week.
The field visit was deemed important as the Ministry will meet with the contractor next week to evaluate completed work. The Ministry inherited contracts for 1,016 sites, and George emphasized the need for a comprehensive status update at the board level. He authorized an audit to determine the status of all sites, whether constructed, active, and carrying traffic.
Georg highlighted battery issues as a key challenge, urging traditional authorities and community members to protect batteries, as their theft renders sites inoperable. Other reported issues included problems with prepaid meters and ECG meters, as well as tampered batteries in solar-powered sites. Despite some communities lacking electricity, George assured the people of Sekyere Afram Plains that the government provides connectivity ahead of time, as connectivity is crucial across the country.
The Minister explained that telcos may not invest in small communities due to the economic consequences of mounting a full telecom mast, which relies on electricity and generators, and may not generate sufficient revenue to cover operational costs.
To address this, telecommunication companies contribute to GIFEC to build community networks. The government is committed to upgrading rural networks from 3G to 4G to provide a real digital experience to people in rural areas. Minister George emphasized President John Dramani Mahama's and the Finance Minister's assurance to provide necessary resources for continued investment in rural telephony, as connectivity is essential for everyone.
Written by urgent.news from The Chronicle Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
