?8.2bn Digital Phone Exchange Inaugurated At Kpando

A 4,000-line capacity digital telephone exchange valued at ?8.2 billion has been inaugurated at Kpando. This brings to seven the total network of Ghana Telecom (GT) in the Volta Region after Ho, Amedzofe, Hohoe, Kete-Krachi, Denu-Aflao and Keta.

Work is also progressing satisfactorily for a new switch to be installed at Akatsi, while efforts are also being made to extend 60 telephone lines from Hohoe to Jasikan and Kadjebi as a temporary measure, pending the provision of permanent new exchanges for the two towns.

The Minister of Communications and Technology, Hon. Felix Owusu-Agyapong, regretted the inadequacy of the present telephone density of about 2.9 lines per person, saying it fell below international communications standards.

He expressed deep optimism the GT would increase its network by a minimum of 400,000 fixed lines within the next three years.

Owusu-Agyapong envisaged that with this development, telephone facilities would be extended to towns with institutions of higher learning for Internet connections and other applications.

The minister charged the communities to give maximum protection to the installations in their areas to avoid them being stolen or damaged by thieves or miscreants.

The Volta Regional Minister, Nana Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah, said that a readily available, effective and reliable telephone system is a critical facility that can propel development in the present era of information communication technology (ICT).

He therefore expressed the urgent need for Ghana Telecom to increase the lines at the already full subscribed exchanges in the region, while work is expedited on new exchanges for areas which do not have the facility yet.

Togbe Komlateng V, chief of Kpando-Alonyi, presided over the function and asked the business community and investors to take advantage of the facility and come to invest in the area.