More than 1000 of the 2016 Cell Sites being constructed across the country by the government to improve internet penetration to bridge the digital divide have been completed, Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has stated.
She said 476 of the Cell Sites had been connected and the beneficiary communities now had access to internet and communication services, adding that the project would connect about 4 million people in the underserved communities with internet.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful stated this at the 2023 Ghana Internet Governance Forum on the theme; ‘Building a Secure and Sustainable Digital Future,’ the Cell Sites project started in November 2020, as part of efforts by her ministry to bridge the digital divide and bring internet access to the doorstep of the citizens.
Organised by the Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR) and the Ghana Internet Governance Internet Forum, it was attended by some Members of Parliament, representatives of government agencies, the private sector, students and the general public.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful explained that 1010 out of the 2016 cell sites had been completed, and the remaining was expected to be completed before the end of next year.
The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation pledged the government’s commitment to initiating policies and projects to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion.
“The implementation of our digital agenda required collaborated engagements with stakeholders including civil society organisations, businesses, internet service providers and the general public to provide a platform for guidance and ensuring systems were standardised in ensuring they withstand attacks,” she stated.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful commended the organisers of the programme and expressed the hope that they would come out with suggestions to help deepen internet penetration in the country.
The Chairman of the Ghana Internet Governance Forum and Executive Director of the GDNR, Mr Nana Kofi Asafu-Aidoo, said the programme formed part of preparations towards the country’s participation in the Global Internet Governance Forum to be held before the end of the year in Kyoto, Japan.
He said the Global Internet Governance Forum would create a platform where countries which have had their local and regional internet governance forum to meet and share ideas.
Mr Asafu-Aidoo said the programme began with the Youth Internet Governance on Thursday which was well attended by students across the region.
The Executive Director said this year’s programme would discuss topics such as: The future of Domain Name and E-commerce in Ghana, Enhancing Roles in Bringing Better Broadband to Ghana, Leveraging AI and Machine Learning in Higher Education, Opportunities and Challenges, and Inclusive Digital Literacy: Empowering Women and Girls with Disability.
The Board Chair of the GDNR, and Chairman of Tin-Ifa Group, Reverend Dr Nanayaa Owusu-Prempeh, in an interview called on the government to initiate policies to help reduce the cost of internet and also attract companies to underserved communities in the country.
She also called for the establishment of a National Body to oversee internet usage to protect the interest of individual internet consumers.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE