Photos: Akufo-Addo commissions rural telephony and digital inclusion project

President Nana Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Rural Telephony for Digital Inclusion project.

The project, funded by Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), is to ensure universal access to electronic communications.

This project would help extend the coverage of mobile telephony services into areas where access to such services is not adequately available, and where existing licensed operators have proven unwilling or unable to expand their networks, due to commercial or other constraints.

It adds to some 400 Rural Telephony Project sites nationwide, serving about 1,200,000 people within 2,000 communities through innovations and partnerships.

Photo: Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Dompoasehene: Nana Okofo Sobin Kai II, President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Over the past couple of years, the purpose of the RTP has been to expand voice service to these communities, with a population of less than 1,500, thereby improving their access to quality mobile service.

Currently, however, the RTP has been enhanced to provide broadband service due to the evolution of technology.

In 2017, GIFEC developed an innovative solution to ensure the deployment of more RTP sites in a sustainable manner, through the tripartite partnership arrangement.

This arrangement involves the Mobile Network Operators, private investors, and GIFEC, as the government’s representative.

Whilst GIFEC facilitates the land acquisition, waiver on equipment and all customary and licensing, the private investor provides equipment and construction of the sites, with the MNO providing service.