The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has told chiefs and the people of Esaase and Edawuakurom in the Akontombra constituency in the Western North Region that the government would resolve their voice and data connectivity challenges.
It follows a call on the government by the Chief of Esaase, Nana Kwaku Ntuah II, to enhance mobile and internet connectivity in various communities in the region.
Nana Kwaku Ntuah II noted that the current state of connectivity has been inconvenient and required urgent attention from the government to have it fixed to enhance accessibility.
“I have improvised and got a device to provide a network for just the palace. The whole town come here for their phone calls, and that inconveniences me a lot. I have no privacy in my palace. Please grant us connectivity,” he told the minister.
On behalf of the chiefs, he expressed appreciation to the government for the road infrastructure, schools, and potable drinking water brought to the various communities through the President Akufo-Addo led administration.
Responding to their request, the minister assured them of the Akufo-Addo administration’s resolve to bridge the country’s widening digital and network gap.
She said that the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) was constructing more than 100 telecommunication masts in the Western North Region, noting that the Akontombra Constituency has 14 of them.
“I am optimistic that connectivity issues will be a thing of the past soon,” Ursula said.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful is on a seven-day working tour of the Western North region.
On his part, the Chief of Edawuakurom promised to give the government lands needed for developmental projects in the community.
At Sefwi Wiawso
When she visited the Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso, Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II, the minister told the chiefs and people that she was determined to provide connectivity to the rural and unserved areas through GIFEC’s Rural Telephony Project.
In addition, she noted that the establishment of various activities of the National Cyber Security Centre would help combat cyber-crime.
She promised that her ministry would continue to work assiduously to ensure that Sefwi Wiawso and its environs remain safe from cybercrime.