GIFEC Acquires More Sites for Rural Connectivity
Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), as part of the Government’s Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP), has embarked on an exercise to acquire another round of Sites, for the construction of Mobile Network Sites in about 300 communities across the country, beginning with 82 Sites over the next two weeks.
The exercise, led by the Administrator, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, involves Community Engagement activities and the acquisition of a suitable land for the construction of approved Sites, following successful Drive Tests and computer simulations, to confirm Site viability.
As part of the exercise, the Administator, along with a Support Team visited select communities (Onyemso, Adunkwaa and Osubeng) in the Eastern Region on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Mr. Sefah reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring 95% mobile network coverage by December 2023, through the establishment of 2,016 Rural Sites under the GRT&DIP.
He interacted with chiefs and members of the three communities, and assured them of the commitment of GIFEC and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to ensuring the prompt construction of these Sites, to facilitate development.
He highlighted the importance of mobile network connectivity in development, as it enhances education, trade and commerce, to mention a few.
He said, that the project, although slightly delayed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, since it commenced in 2020, has chalked some remarkable milestones in its implementation. Sites have been built in 1,084 communities, with 512 integrated to the core network and 417 On Air (activated) and delivering voice and data services to over 120,000 average daily subscribers across various rural communities so far.
The Land Acquisition exercise is being conducted in the Central, Western, Western North, Eastern, Ashanti, Volta, Oti and Northern Regions.
Mr. Sefah was accompanied by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu South, Hon. Emmanuel Atta Ofori and staff members of GIFEC and Kwahu South District Assembly.
