The government will complete 560 mobile sites by the end of the year - Communications Minister
The government will completeby the end of this year, the construction of some 560 rural telephone sites under the Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project to expand voice and data in underserved and underserved communities. serving across Ghana.
Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful who is the Minister of Communications and Digital,said that 1,008 villages havealready been built under this project in all countries between 2020 and 2022. Thegovernment, he added, hopes to complete the remaining projects as soon as possible.
"We are optimistic that out of the remaining 1,008 sites to be completed, 560 rural areas will be completed by the end of this year," he said. The minister said this in a speech read on hisbehalf by Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information and Digitalization, during the celebration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2023 Wednesday, ofthe Ministry and organized media (ANC). ).
WTISD aims to help raise awareness of the benefits citizens and the economy can achieve through the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) to bridge the digital divide. This year's global theme is: "Empowering the least developed countriesthrough Information and Communication Technologies",the national theme is: "Public Relations and Public Relationsfor Integration".
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said thatinvestment in ICT is critical in bridging the gap in the use of technology, therefore the government has undertaken several projects including the National Homelessness Act to address the network coverage problem.
"This is a step to ensure that all citizens, wherever they are,have access to reliable communications services," hesaid. The government has provided $2.6 million to support the manufacturing industry to train 3,000 people by 2024.
"The ministry also has an agreement with the Smart Africa Alliance, through the Smart Africa Digital Academy, to train up to 22,000 people by 2023," he added. Professor Ezer Osei Yeboah-Boateng, the Deputy Director for Technical Services, NCA, said that over the years the governmentthrough the Ministry of Communications and Digitization has been promoting digital systems to close the digital divide and improve literacy and connectivity. .
"Projects such as rural telephony, UMTS900, girls and ICT, local media, national transport, and others, areimplemented by the Ministry and its agencies and are constantly executed. it to improve the connection," he added. At the beginning of this year, there were more than 22.8 million internet registrations in Ghana with a penetration rate of 71.94%, he said, showing a significant increase in connectivity from previous years.
Despite this, Professor Yeboah-Boateng said that the country needs to implement strong policies and partnerships to ensure its sustainability, stressing that public and private partnerships are key to achieving this goal. "We have made progress, however, there is still room for improvement as we seek and strive to support developed countries to connect with the rest of the world." "Government cannot do it alone and that is the purpose of government to create the conditions for the investment and growth of the private sector."
Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, the UNESCO country representative, is convinced of the continued support of the UN and the government to help integrate ICT in Ghana.
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