Amenfi East MP ‘Fights’ Communication Minister Over Poor Cellular Network

The Minister for Communication and digitalization, hon Ursula Owusu Ekuful has assured that some communities in Wassa Amenfi East of the Western Region will soon enjoy uninterrupted communication network and internet service after she was dragged to Parliament.

The communication minister made the assurance on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, 26th July, 2022, after the Wassa Amenfi East MP, hon. Nicholas Amankwah popularly known as Home Boy filed a question requesting the Minister of Communication and Digitalization on when over 9 communities will benefit from the Rural Telecommunication Network Project.

Hon Nicholas Amankwah suggests that residents of over 9 communities in the Wassa Amenfi East can not access the internet and telephone calls due to poor cellular network.

He thus, questioned the sector Minister on steps the government through the Communication Ministry is embarking on to improve the situation.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Communications and Digitalization when the following communities in Amenfi East Constituency will be connected with Telecommunication and internet connectivity; (i) Pawuako (ii) Agyakuso, (iii) Wassa Kumasi, (iv) Beposo, (v) Junction, Dikoto, (vi) Wantram, (vii) Asomdwe and Subri-Nkotie thank you”

It’s heartbreaking to note that due to poor cellular network in community’s in Amenfi East has forced residents to climb on mountains and trees for hours for the reception to talk to their families and loves ones.

Ursula Owusu, the sector minister answering questions on the floor said the 9 community’s listed were not captured on phase 1 of the Ghana Rural telephony and Rural digital inclusion projects Telecommunication.

However, giving an assurance on the floor of Parliament, she indicated that Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) will conduct a drive test to access the affected communities for consideration on phase 2 projects in Wassa Amenfi East.

According to the sector Minister, GIFEC has already acquired lands in 10 communities within the constituency namely; Asensenso, Marfokrom, Wassa Mampong, Boikrom, Wassa Dawurampon, Dompuase, Gyedua, Newaboi, Wassa Asuogya, Nsuaem No², and Krobo to mounted Network poles for the connectivity.

She said, some of the Telecommunication companies have already conducted analysis on some of the communities and are currently on air especially, Wassa Mampong, Asensenso and Marfokrom but the 6 remaining sites are at various stages of completion meanwhile, there are no immediate plans to connect those communities, she added.

But the MP lamented that he was not satisfied with the answers provided by the sector Minister on grounds that there was no timeline as to when the communities would be connected.

The Wasa Amenfi East Member of Parliament through his skillful lobbing capabilities has within a week summoned three ministries namely; the Roads and Highways Ministry, Water and Sanitation Ministry and on Tuesday also dragged the Minister for Communication and Digitalization before Parliament to demand social and economic reliefs for his constituents.

Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari.