Baku:Sekyere Afram Plains District The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has ordered an immediate comprehensive audit of 2,016 rural telephony sites across Ghana. This decision was announced during a media briefing held today as part of a field inspection of rural telephony projects in the Ashanti Region.
According to Ghana Web, the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has been tasked to confirm the physical construction, operational status, and traffic capability of each site inherited under the national project. The initiative aims to ascertain the functionality and construction status of all telephony sites.
During his tour, the Minister confirmed that network activations are underway in several remote communities. Specifically, the telecommunications mast at Dawia is expected to become operational by the end of the day, enabling local network traffic routing via its donor site at Birim. Additionally, solar-powered sites at Abenua, Nyameama No. 1, and Nyameama No. 2 are slated to achieve full connectivity by week's end.
In Anyinofi, Sam George noted the commencement of new telecommunications mast construction by subcontractor Rainbow, in collaboration with MTN Ghana. Following discussions with local leaders, three additional communities with existing equipment were identified for immediate installation.
Addressing operational challenges, the Minister identified battery theft as a major threat to solar-powered telecom infrastructure. He appealed to traditional authorities and local youth groups to protect solar storage battery banks. Meanwhile, issues related to grid-connected outages are being addressed with district authorities.
To prevent a widening digital divide, the ministry is leading an upgrade of rural GIFEC networks from 3G to 4G standards, ensuring access to high-speed data for rural residents. MTN Ghana has been contracted to build 800 new telecommunications sites to serve underserved areas. This site allocation is based on an extensive consultation process that identified priority connectivity gaps.
The funding for smaller community networks continues to be supported by GIFEC contributions from licensed telecom operators, addressing the economic challenges of low population density and high operational costs. The Minister assured that the Mahama administration, with backing from the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is committed to providing the financial resources needed to close the digital gap between rural and urban areas in Ghana.