(Ecofin Agency) - Although digitalization efforts have made progress, rural areas in many African countries still lag, often due to infrastructure gaps. Collaborative efforts are essential to close the digital divide.

The Acting Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Dr. Tanko Rashid-Computer, met with Mr. Leo Skarlatos, CEO of AT Ghana, to explore ways of enhancing rural connectivity across Ghana.

The meeting, announced on March 21, centered on leveraging the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP) to expand mobile and internet penetration in underserved and unserved communities.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bridging the digital divide and advancing the government’s vision of a fully connected Ghana. Moving forward, technical discussions will be held to develop a comprehensive action plan for implementation.

According to a February 2024 press briefing by the then Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the government in 2020 secured a €155 million facility from the China EXIM Bank to launch the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project in partnership with Huawei, CNTIC, and Ascend Digital Solutions. The project aims to build 2,016 sites, reaching 4 million residents in unserved communities.

This collaboration aligns with Ghana’s digital transformation agenda, which seeks to ensure inclusive access to communication and digital services for all citizens.

Hikmatu Bilali