State Telecom Denies Sabotaging Competitors

The Head of Ghana Telecom (GT) in charge of Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. J. A. Boateng, has stated that his company is not sabotaging other telephone providers, particularly those in the cellular phone industry.

Mr. Boateng explained that those in the cellular phone industry are unable to provide quality services to their customers, because they cannot pay for circuits bought from GT and they have to be disconnected.

Mr. Boateng stated this at the 'Meet the Press' organized by the company at Sunyani last weekend to outline its activities in the region.

He regretted that these competitors quickly rush to the press to create the impression that GT is sabotaging them, which, according to him, is not so.

Explaining the circumstances leading to the suspension of selling 'one touch chips,' he stated that they have decided not to put more into the system to avoid congestion.

The Regional Head revealed that there are more chips, but the management has held on the sales, until they are able to expand to cover more areas.

According to him, about 40 per cent of the 'one touch chips' that were sold at Sunyani had found their way back to Accra, thereby creating congestion in the system in Accra.

He warned that future sales would be tightened to ensure that only deserving people get the chips.

Mr. Boateng said one of the problems confronting them in the region is the huge debt owned to them by telephone users and therefore appealed to the public to settle their indebtedness when due.

"If telephone bills are settled in time, we can provide you with quality service," he stressed.

Currently, according to the regional head, the other major problem is the non-availability of cells and network coverage in the districts.

As part of GT expansion programme and to ensure that telephones, particularly the fixed lines, are sufficient to the public, Boateng said, the company had recently expanded its Sunyani switch, creating about 600 lines.

He announced that additional 100 cells have been reserved for the Baakoniaba, areas as the customer access network is still under construction.

On the extension of GMS cell sites, Mr. Boateng told the media practitioners that Dormaa Ahenkro, Jema Nkwanta, Nkronza, Kintampo and Prans are areas proposed for extension.

Asutifi and Asumafo district, as hinted by the Regional Head, would soon get their share of GT cellular phone.

At Sunyani, where GT mobile phone covers only two kilometres radius, Mr. Boateng said they have decided to expand the cell sites in order to cover a wider area.

"Plans are far in advance to install GSM payphones in towns without telephone facilities, but can receive mobile signals," he said.

The company, according to the regional head, would also be extending telecommunication facilities to all second cycle institutions and teacher training colleges in the region.