The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said that the government has successfully executed more than one thousand rural telephony sites in February 2024 alone.
According to the Minister, the project is part of a total of 2016 expected sites to be completed.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Information on February 18, 2024, on the theme “Digital Infrastructure to Bridge the Digital Divide”, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the NPP government was committed to enhancing the country’s digitalisation agenda.
She noted further that the government has prioritise the extension of mobile telephony nationwide, especially in areas where access to internet low.
For this reason, the minister indicated that 618 out of the 1010 telephony sites that have been constructed are already in operation.
“Under this visionary project, a total of 2016 rural telephony sites are expected to be constructed to extend mobile network coverage to approximately 4 million selected unserved and underserved communities nationwide, a significant step in bridging the digital divide. We are determined to leave no one behind in our quest for digital transformation.
“As of February 2024, one thousand and ten (1010) of the planned sites have been successfully constructed with six hundred and eighteen of them already operational, offering essential voice and data services to citizens in about one thousand and two rural communities, who can make calls and use data services, thereby enhancing social in these communities,” she said.
The remaining telephony sites expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to the minister are to ensure reliable, affordable, and secure broadband effectively.
“The Ministry is determined to build the remaining one thousand and six sites and integrate and activate them all for voice and data services to ensure reliable affordable and secure broadband infrastructure this year,” she added.
The government, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful noted seeks to make the project a game-changer, enabling Ghanaians to have access to internet irrespective of their location and network provider.
