Address challenges in using mobile platform - Deputy Communication Minister

Mrs Victoria Lakshmi Hamah

Accra, May 17, GNA - Ms Victoria Lakshmi Hamah, Deputy Minister of Communications, has called on stakeholders in the telecom sector to address difficulties impeding mobile utilisation growth for the benefit of the ordinary people.

'Despite the opportunities mobile communication provide there are associated challenges which can impede growth in the telecom sector if practical steps are not taken,' Ms Hamah said the ongoing stakeholders' conference on 'Application of mobile communications in Africa-Prospects and Challenges' at the Ghana Technology University College.

She said the mobile platform had provided opportunities for value added services like mobile banking, electronic marketing, learning, and access to health information, agricultural market data available to rural farmers and social media for the youth.

The platform had enhanced transparency in governance and strengthened democracy by enabling citizens to express their opinions on national issues, she added.

In spite of the numerous prospects in mobile platform, Ms Hamah regretted the nuisance of cutting of fibre cables that disrupted quality service.

She also lamented the limited mobile coverage in the un-served and underserved communities leading to poor internet connectivity as well as the challenge of electricity to most rural Ghana, which needed to be addressed.

She said government was desirous of providing world-class communication infrastructure to complement the private sector and had therefore implemented the e-government network infrastructure nationwide and also constructed the Eastern Corridor Fibre Project.

The two-day conference is a joint initiative of the Ghana Technology University College and the Centre for Communication, Media and Information Technology, Aalborg University in Denmark.

GNA