Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitization, has officially commissioned several sites under the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project in the Effiduase Asokore constituency of the Ashanti Region.
This initiative brings much-needed network connectivity to previously underserved communities, including Anunso, Anaham-Brofoyeduru, and Boyaa.
The commissioning represents a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide. Speaking to the media, Owusu-Ekuful emphasized the critical role of digital access in modern life, highlighting the growing reliance on online services for education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. She stressed that excluding unconnected communities from this digital transformation is unacceptable.
The project employs a cost-effective shared network model, allowing multiple telecommunication providers to utilize the same infrastructure.
“This innovative approach, successfully implemented since 2020, serves as a blueprint for the future rollout of 5G services nationwide. The addition of national roaming capabilities ensures seamless connectivity for users regardless of their chosen network provider.”
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful detailed the transformative impact of the project, emphasizing its contribution to economic empowerment and social inclusion. Access to e-health, e-education, and e-commerce platforms empowers citizens, providing opportunities for education, employment, and engagement with government services.
She highlighted the convenience of online bill payments and access to crucial services such as NHIS registration.
However, the minister also addressed concerns about vandalism, specifically the theft of batteries from project sites. She issued a heartfelt plea to community members to protect this vital infrastructure, emphasizing that such acts directly impact the accessibility of essential services for everyone in the community.
The successful implementation of the project, she concluded, underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that all Ghanaians, regardless of location, can participate fully in the digital economy.
Speaking to some residents of the Anaham-Brofoyeduru community, this project, according to them, would offer them connectivity to the other parts of the world, adding that they would no longer have to climb trees or travel long distances just to access a stable network.
“Before this project,” said some of the residents of Anaham-Brofoyeduru, “we had to struggle to get any signal. We would have to climb trees or go to the top of our houses just to make a phone call. But now, with these new poles, we can access the network from anywhere in the village.”
According to them, the project has not only improved connectivity but has also created new opportunities for the people of Effiduase. With access to the internet, they can now engage in many other online opportunities, start businesses, and connect with the rest of the world.
The Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion project has not only bridged the digital divide but has also ignited a flame of hope and progress in the hearts of the beneficiary residents.
Source:Â Nana Peprah