Communications minister tours Ashanti region (Photos)
The minister of communications Hon Ursula Owusu Ekuful has begun a 2 day working tour to some Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) project sites in some parts of the Ashanti region.
GIFEC which is an agency under the ministry of communications mandated by the Electronic Communications Act 2008 (Act 775), to facilitate access to information and Communications infrastructure and service to underserved and unserved communities in Ghana.
Purpose of the minister’s visit is to acquaint herself with interventions being carried out by GIFEC.
Hon. Ursula Owusu was accompanied by Chief Executive officer for GIFEC, Mr Kofi Asante, heads of departments at the communications ministry and other government appointees.
Speaking at a mini durbar when she visited some sites in the Asante Akyem central Municipality, Hon Ursula Owusu stated that a Community Information Centre (CIC) model has been adopted by the ministry to provide a hybrid of not -for- profit community resource Centre and for -profit community centres.
According to her, the CIC project is to provide community development information and business services to communities with access to internet enabled computers, software based on local information needs, fax machines, printers, copiers, telephones, Television and radios. She said a total number of two hundred and forty – one (241) Community Information Centres (CICs) will be provided across the country with fully stocked libraries to enhance quality education as Ashanti region gets 6 of the centres in Kwamang,Kodie,Ejura,Bekwai,Bonwire and Namong.
Again a Rural Telephony Project (RTP) which seeks to extend the coverage of mobile telephone service to all communities in the country to achieve a 100% mobile telephone service coverage throughout Ghana and increase telephone subscribership to as many citizens as possible.
Hon Ursula Owusu explained that a total number of 100 sites have been completed in the first phase out of which 29 are in the Ashanti region. She added that Ashanti region will benefit from another 30 sites in the second phase of 200 sites to add up to 59 sites out of the total 500 sites across Ghana representing 20%.
Again she says in addition, the School connectivity project which will see to the equipping of some selected schools in deprived areas with computers, accessories and internet connectivity as 250 junior high schools have been equipped with 49 of them in Ashanti region.
The Honorable Communications minister says the move is to ensure that quality ICT is extended to all students across the country and equal share of the national cake as promised by the Nana Addo led NPP government.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said government is working to ensure universal access to telephone services and internet connectivity across the country by the year 2020.
She said this has been the objective of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration so as to ensure equitable distribution of development.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Evans Agyei Sikapa
