Ghana Directs GIFEC to Expand Rural Connectivity and Accelerate Network Upgrades
George said the Rural Telephony Project seeks to bridge Ghana’s digital divide by extending network coverage to communities that telecommunications operators may consider commercially unviable.
Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has directed the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to accelerate efforts to extend telecommunications services to three additional communities in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of the Ashanti Region.
The directive followed an inspection of four Rural Telephony Project sites at Nyameama No. 1, Nyameama No. 2, Dawia and Abenua on October 13, 2026. The visit aimed to assess progress, identify implementation challenges and ensure the timely completion of outstanding works. The Minister was accompanied by Sekyere Afram Plains District Chief Executive Abubakar Issaka, GIFEC Administrator Rashid Tanko Computer and other officials.
George said the Rural Telephony Project seeks to bridge Ghana’s digital divide by extending network coverage to communities that telecommunications operators may consider commercially unviable.
He also announced plans to audit rural telephony sites inherited by the current administration to establish their completion status and verify whether facilities reported as operational were actually providing network services. He urged traditional authorities and residents to protect installed telecommunications equipment against damage and service disruptions.
The Minister further called for existing rural networks to be upgraded from 3G to 4G, warning that improving digital services in urban areas without similar progress in rural communities could widen the digital divide as Ghana advances towards broader 5G deployment.
In a related initiative, the government is collaborating with MTN Ghana to deploy 800 new telecommunications sites nationwide. The locations were identified through consultations with Members of Parliament, who submitted communities experiencing persistent network problems.
Communities in Sekyere Afram Plains are among those prioritised for improved coverage. George commended the district’s Member of Parliament for advocating better telecommunications services and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding network access across Ghana.
