NCA Challenged To Expand Operations

The Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, has challenged the National Communications Authority (NCA) to extend its activities countrywide.

He noted that although the NCA was doing its best, communication services have not reached every corner of the country, particularly some areas of the three northern regions.

The minister said this on Monday when he paid a familiarisation tour to the offices of  NCA.

He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Gideon Quarcoo and other officials of the ministry.

The minister noted that it was sometimes disheartening when some people did not receive telecommunication services.

In some cases, he said that the services of customers could cease abruptly due to poor services and urged the NCA to work more in its monitoring services.

The minister urged the authority to do more in the area of Information Communication and Technology, adding that it was the determination of the government to extend internet facilities  throughout the country by 2012.

He said government was  determined to encourage the opening of community radio stations to facilitate the education of people on such issues such as HIV/AIDS, among social and health matters.

The Director General of  the NCA, Mr. Bernard Forson Jnr, said there had been 53 per cent penetration in the telecommunication industry and hoped to reach between 65-70 per cent by the end of the year.

He said that the NCA was poised to monitor and regulate the operations of radio stations in the country.

Mr. Forson Jnr said it was the expectation of the authority to  swift from digital to analogue in the shortest possible time.

He also pledged NCA's commitment to work closely with the stakeholders in the communication industry.