“Government is providing the requisite communications infrastructure throughout the country, we are also creating an enabling environment, through the policies implemented over the last 19 months, to encourage private sector investment in the communications sector” President, Nana Akufo Addo said addressing the indigenes at the inauguration of rural telephony project in Abenaso, Kwaebibirim Municipal in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The project which saw the President to represent rural telephony projects in Ghana and to inaugurate the site, is an initiative by Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), in partnership with MTN Ghana, a telecommunication company and Huawei Technologies Limited as an IT company through the National Communications(NCA) Authority for approval as regulatory authority.
The President stated that his government has begun rolling out the rural telephony project, which will provide data and voice connectivity to some 1,020 hitherto, unserved communities across the country. As government continues to attach great importance to ensuring that telecommunication and ICT facilities, which he describe as basic necessities of life, are available in all parts of the country. He also stated that JHS leavers who took their BECE exams henceforth can now check their results via the use of website applications on mobile phones which will be of help to these students with 3G internet connectivity.
The President said he hopes the project provides a positive impact as he encourage the indegenes to use the mobile telephony wisely and positively. He further stated that, “such is the commitment of government to ensuring the realization of today’s ceremony that taxes, such as VAT, customs duties and other import levies, were waived for the equipment brought into the country for the project. He further express his appreciation to the traditional authorities, across the country, for generously donating parcels of land for the commencement of the project.
The Communication Minister, Ursula Owusu in her address said it’s a significance milestone as part of a global standard and also a technological agenda to the broadband. As GIFEC is also mandated by law to provide mobile telephony nationwide. She also said they intend to achieve 100% throughout the country by 2020 with mobile telephony hoping that the initiative will impact businesses, education, agriculture, and the health sectors. As it will go a long way to impact girls in ICT programme and IT in children’s education. The Minister of Communciation also encourage other telecommunication companies to follow accordingly and congratulated GIFEC, NCA, MTN, and Huawei.
Meanwhile, in the remarks made by the administrator for GIFEC, Abraham Kofi Asante, he acknowledge the role of the NCA for the authorization of the use of frequencies and the regulation of the telecom industry for successful implementation of rural telephony. He said “It is an on-going programme aimed at making mobile telephone services accessible to all persons in Ghana. He explained how the project demonstrates the translation of the manifesto(Page 83 Item Vii) into concrete results of facilitating a nationwide access to mobile telecommunications network”.
Notably, from 2009-2016 within a period of 8years, 79 telephone sites were constructed which later translates into an average delivery of about 10 rural telephony sites per year, Mr. Asante said. He further stated that currently, work is progressing steadily on 200 additional sites expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Finally, he said “we believe that electronic communication is one of the social services that has the potential of changing the living standards of rural communities and positioning Ghana as a digital hub in the sub region. He urge stakeholders and staff of GIFEC to increase their participation in the delivery of universal access to ICT’s which is a catalyst for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDG’s).
The CEO of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevor also took his turn to address the natives of Abenaso. He said “in order to achieve the vision as MTN operates; ‘to lead the delivery of a bold digital world, there was the urgent need to contribute our quota in bridging the digital divide in Ghana by providing coverage for unserved and undeserved rural communities in our quest to provide fast and reliable mobile telephony connectivity”. MTN Ghana together with its technology partners and GIFEC commissioned 55 rural telephony sites over satellite backhaul which provided only voice and Mobile Money services, he said.
However, he further stated that as a company committed to continuous improvement, “we tasked our engineers to find more effective solutions to provide digital services in rural areas. An innovative solution was developed in-house with support from our technology partners, which was named the Rural Star Solution, that eventually,emerging marketing GSMA 2018 Mobile World Congress market awards in Barcelona, Solution won the best mobile innovation, the CEO of MTN Ghana said. He also laud the collaboration between MTN and GIFEC for its effectiveness in providing 98 out of 100 sites planned for July 2018 delivery which are already operational across 9 regions in Ghana. As he stated that, the second phase of the project involves 200 sites which are currently at various stages of completion and is scheduled to be fully operational before December, making a total of 300 new sites rolled out in 2018.
MTN Ghana is very confident that the project will be beneficial to the people of Abenaso and on the economy as a whole, as the increase trend of rural urban migration will be curb. The CEO of MTN Ghana explained how communities will have full access to the digital world which provides limitless opportunities for business growth, educational development, agricultural development, access to healthcare and the opportunity to trade in digital product and services. Tourists will also be attracted when they visit knowing that they will not be entirely cut off from the rest of the world because of poor network services.
He further encourage the entire community to be vigilant to ensure the facility remains protected for the optimal performance of the network to be maintained. As in the past, the have be instances of battery thefts and destruction of solar panels. But with the the collective vigilance, “we beleive that this will be a thing of the past”.
Speaking at the sidelines in an interview, the CEO of MTN Ghana, was confident how MTN as a telecommunication network is committed to invest in rural telephony. He said, “we are definitely going to invest in rural telephony project, this is just the beginning”.
Although the Paramount Chief, Berima Amoa Kwetia II in his address applauded the President with the help of free SHS and for the mobile telephony which will go a very long way to benefit them in business and healthcare, he appeal for good roads to be constructed in the district. As access to good roads such as the route to Kade, capital of Abenaso serving as the main market where farm produce cannot be transported due to the deployable roads. Although, they contribute in cocoa as a district to the country. The Chief also appeal for good healthcare in the hospital of Abenaso and further pleaded for logistics in the Police Service to help the indegens in terms of security.
However, the President retorted and promise in his address the Chief and the people of Abenaso, the roads will be done as other matters will be solve in his tenure.
Prince Schroeder
