Samuel Nartey George orders audit of 2,016 rural telephony sites

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has directed an immediate and comprehensive national audit of 2,016 rural telephony sites. Announced during a media engagement in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, the audit is designed to verify the construction and operational status of infrastructure across the country. The Minister emphasized that the exercise is crucial to ensuring that taxpayers receive value for money from projects inherited from the previous administration.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) will lead the verification process, focusing on both the physical existence of the sites and their current functional capacity. Beyond the audit, the Ministry is prioritizing the immediate activation of networks in remote communities to address urgent needs for digital access. However, the Minister noted significant operational hurdles, particularly the frequent theft of batteries from solar-powered installations. He called for increased community vigilance and local support to protect these vital telecommunications assets from vandalism.

This initiative aligns with the Mahama administration's commitment to bridging the digital divide between rural and urban populations through sustained financial investment. To further expand national connectivity, the Minister also revealed that MTN Ghana is set to construct 800 new telecommunications sites. This expansion is expected to satisfy growing requests for telephony services in developing communities, including those in the Ashanti Region, ensuring that all citizens can participate in the digital economy.