Woes of Communications Centre Operators At Prampram, Kpone

Prampram -- INFORMATION gathered from Prampram and Kpone townships near Tema in the Greater Accra region have it that communication centre operators within the two towns are having a difficult time containing their customers as a result of the frequent cuts in telephone calls they make from their centres.

This has resulted in some customers hailing insults on the operators and sometimes fisticuffs degenerate between them and some of the customers who are extremely temperamental.

What they mostly get is 30-45 clock seconds, and sometimes 15 seconds instead of one minute, and then the phone will go off, and when they demand payments from the customer, it becomes a problem as some of the customers accuse them of deliberately cutting their calls so that they can make more money.

They hinted that in recent times, the lines can cease to operate for several hours before they come on again. Another disturbing point raised by the operators is the fact that as a result of the problem, they are losing customers each passing day.

When contacted, the Tema area manager, Mr. Joe Odi told the paper that the company is being confronted with a small technical problem.

Explaining further, he noted that his outfit is conducting a test exercise aimed at trying to replace the old integrated rural telephone network within the area, but it will also expand the network to serve more customers.

On the limited call time, the area manager disclosed that the system as it is presently, works automatically such that when there are a number of people calling at the same time, the system will have to regulate itself in such a way that every caller could have some time to call, that is why sometimes one person's call gets cut.

Regarding the long interruption, Mr. Odoi disclosed that it is because of the replacement exercise which takes place during weekends, adding that the exercise is expected to be completed by the end of the year after which customers would enjoy uninterrupted telephone services.

He said the area was chosen for the pilot project because the area falls under the free zones enclave.

The area manager urged their numerous customers to bear with them when such problems crop up.