Ghana’s Communication Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful shares on how Ghana is using ICTs for development at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018.
Last year in Ghana, 2 million citizens came online for the first time. Through rural internet connections, they were able to access information and resources previously unavailable. And the country has plans to connect millions more in the years to come.
At the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018, Ghana’s Minister of Communications discussed the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in her country.
“In my opinion, we’re the most important industry in the whole world, because we make every other industry work.” – Communication Minister, Ursula Gifty Owusu-Ekuful
“I think ICTs are indispensable for socio-economic development in every sector,” said H.E. Ursula Gifty Owusu-Ekuful. “We’re seeing it enhancing education, health, e-commerce and it is making life easier for our peasant farmers around the country; and small businesses are being enabled and facilitated by ICTs.”
So how has the country been able to make big leaps in rural connectivity in such a short time?
“We’re utilizing our universal service funds in collaboration with the private sector to deepen connectivity around the countryside, and this year alone we’ve managed to connect up to two million people who were otherwise unconnected. We worked with an equipment manufacturer and an IT company and a mobile network operator to develop a unique system which they call the “Rural Star” which has enabled us to deepen penetration in our rural areas phenomenally. We’re quite proud of it,” explained Owusu-Ekuful.
Watch the video below in full to learn more:
Credit: ITU News
