The first phase of Ghana's fibre optics project has been completed and is currently being tested, Communications Minister, Dr Benjamin Aggrey-Ntim has said.
Government in June 2006 signed a $30-million contract with China on the fibre optics project as part of efforts to ensure affordable access to high-speed broadband throughout the country.
At present, fibre optics has already existed in southern portion of the country which stretches from Kumasi, Nkawkaw, Accra, Winneba, Cape-Coast and Obuasi.
The first phase of the project however, involves the upgrading of existing fibre optics within the southern triangle and extension of same to reach the middle part of the country.
The second phase, on the other hand, which involves the extension of the facility to the northern sector of the country, will soon begin.
Speaking at the official launching and commissioning of Omatek Computers Ghana Limited factory in Accra yesterday, Dr Aggrey-Ntim said the country's telecommunication sector was doing quite well.
“Today, with a population of 22 million people, Ghana has recorded a total number of telephone subscribers, both fixed and mobile from the 2001 figure of 464,860 to 6,727,075 subscribers, representing 30.5 percent tele-density as of September 2007,” he added.
The Communications Minister was however unhappy about the low pace of internet users in the country, disclosing that presently, they number about 1.5 million.
While commending Omatek for launching into the Ghanaian market, the Minister also urged the ICT company to be competitive and make its PCs available locally at affordable prices.
OMATEK Boss, Engineer Florence Seriki said his outfit was the first computer factory in Africa to locally produce computer speakers and casing, among others from completely knocked down process.
She said Omatek Computers' presence in Ghana would generate massive employment in the country's ICT sector.
Engineer Seriki said her outfit intends to export its products to other African countries from the Ghana factory.
Omatek is currently producing computers and notebooks for the government i-Advance initiative which is geared towards personal ownership of computer for Ghanaian citizens.By Felix Dela Klutse
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