Ghana Telecom to expand telephone facilities

The Minister of Communications and Technology, Felix Owusu-Adjapong has said that major towns are to be connected with telephone facilities within the next two to three years.

Towns with Training Colleges or Senior Secondary Schools would be considered under the first phase of the programme that is to be undertaken by the Ghana Telecom (GT). Owusu-Adjapong said this in Parliament when answering questions from members.

Yaw Effah-Baafi, NDC-Kintampo asked the Minister what plans the Ministry has to extend telephone facilities to Babatokuma, Jema and New Longoro all in the Kintampo District.

Owusu-Adjapong said under the current expansion plan of Ghana Telecom, a 1000 capacity switch has been earmarked for the Kintampo, the district capital. He said the expansion is expected to commence in 2003 and with the completion of the project other towns such as Babatokuma, Jema and New Longoro would be served by the loop dial system.

Effah-Baafi asked the Minister why the original figure of 2000 lines has been changed to 1000 lines and the Minister said it might be with the change in management of Ghana Telecom but gave the assurance of rectifying it.

Abraham Kofi Asante, NDC-Amenfi West asked what time table GT has for its plans of ensuring that telephone facilities are provided and the Minister said Government has given general directives for every big town to be connected and Ghana Telecom has yet not provided its plan of action.

Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South asked how effective the loop dial system was as compared to other system and the Minister said the system has been in use over the years and there has not been any adverse report about it or of any deficiency.

In a related development, Akwasi Dante-Afriyie, NPP- Atwima Mponua asked the Minister when telephone services would be extended to towns in the constituency. Owusu-Adjapong said the district capital, Nkawie has telephone facilities and under Ghana Telecom's 2003 programme, plans have been made to link towns in the Atwima Mponua constituency to the Nkawie facility via wireless technology.

Abraham Kofi Asante, NDC-Amemfi West asked about the current telephone density and what is expected to be in future to which the Minister said he would require notice. Prince Oduro- Mensah, NPP-Techiman South requested that Ghana Telecom be made to publish its plans for the benefit of the various communities and people and the Minister said the request has already been made and the final document is being awaited from Ghana Telecom.