02-11-2011
Narration: As part of its commitment to substantially increase communications connectivity in the north of the country and beyond, Vodafone Ghana with support from the government has officially laid a 120 km fiber cable from Bolgatanga through Bawku and to Senkase in northern Togo. This project will connect Ghana and four other countries in the West African Sub-region including neigbouring Burkina Faso. At a sod cutting ceremony held at Bolgatanga, the Deputy Minister of Communication, Ernest Attuquaye Armah said the construction of the fiber connectivity which includes the establishment of a number of cell sites along the routes will give real meaning to the country’s quest for regional integration with its associated trade and commercial benefits to Ghanaians. Correspondent Isaac Asare was at the event and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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In a bid to revolutionize Ghana’s communication infrastructure and services, Vodafon, one of the worlds’s leading mobile telecommunications company with a significant presence in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific and the United States, had once again shown its commitment to achieving high telecommunication standards in the West Africa sub-region. It may be recalled that on May, 9, 2009 in Tamale, the sector Minister of Communications and his counterparts from Burkina Faso, signed the ministerial declaration which brought forth the urgency to achieve fibre optic connectivity of the two countries in the realization of the decisions and commitment of the World summit on the Information Society and the summit ‘Connect Africa’, which urges government to develop broadband linkages connecting the main towns and capitals of Africa by 2012. Government in pursuant of the objectives outlined under the said declaration and being mindful of the benefits to be derived from implementation of the project, have put in place measures to commence the project to meet the international deadline of 2012. Therefore, the laying of the 120km fibre cable from Bolgatanga through to Bawku and Zebilla to Senkase in the north of Togo is demonstrative of government and Vodafon’s commitment to providing quality services in Ghana and beyond. This connectivity is to also foster economic integration within the ECOWAS sub region. The Deputy Communications Minister, Mr. Ernest Attuquaye Armah, who cut the sod to officially commence the project, commended the efforts of the government of Togo and Burkina Faso for their support and cooperation, which to him defines their level of commitment and brotherliness despite our geographical boundaries. According to him, the project will be undertaken by three contractors to ensure its speedy completion and appealed to the chiefs and people of the communities along the routés to lend the contractors their maximum support and utmost cooperation since the project will involve the digging of trenches even under buildings. Mr. Armah also stressed the need to take advantage of the project to initiate job opportunities for the youth and also make use of the enabling environment to create a healthy socio-economic environment in the region. In a speech read for him, the Managing Director of Vodafon Wholesale, Edwin Provincal, described the occasion as historic and called on the people to support the project to achieve its purpose. He said the fibre connectivity will also have important implication for education in Ghana since it will provide schools and universities with fast link to a world of research and data, and make a significant contribution to the long term goal of building the knowledge-based economy in Ghana. Mr. Provincal commended Vodafon’s partnership with government and expressed their commitment to create ICT infrastructure in the country with the view to promoting digital literacy. The occasion attracted various dignitaries from Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana including the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo and other revered chiefs from the region.
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