Residents of Manhean and Kwashikuma in Ga West have benefited from the Ministry of Communication’s ‘Community Information and Communication Centre’ (CIC) projects currently being provided across the country.
This was a promise by government to all underserved communities through the expanded Rural Telephony Project in order to narrow the digital divide.
Hundreds of communities are to benefit from the project.
Speaking at the commissioning of the two facilities in Accra, Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said the Ministry is determined to leave no one behind in its quest to narrow the digital divide.
While asking the youth to make use of the facility, Mrs Ekuful pleaded with the community to maintain the project to prolong use.
The provision of the Community ICT Centres (CICs) by the Ministry of Communication is in partnership with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). GIFEC has over the years led the expansion drive of ICT to the rural areas.
The Ministry is constructing an additional 30 community ICT Centres in other districts to augment the existing 241 centers in operation.
All the community ICT centres are under the management of GIFEC. The Centers are all equipped with computers and internet service, and expected to serve as learning centers for pupils and students especially during this COVID-19 period where schools have been closed and most students have resorted to learning on line.
Centre managers have also been equipped with the relevant know-how to guide all the users of the facilities. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said much needs to be done to provide ICT inclusiveness to all and that is what the Ministry is determined to do.
She also spoke about the state of the Community ICT Centres (CICs) dotted across the country.
In a speech on his behalf of the Administrator of GIFEC, Abraham Kofi Asante, said the Ministry through the Fund is determined to empower communities to close the digital gap.
He said the Ministry would continue to deploy the needed ICT infrastructure and innovations for rural folks.
The Manhean Manye, Naa Sarkoa, thanked the Government for giving residents of Manhean a window to the world through the provision of ICT. She said inadequate classroom blocks and bad road networks are some of their challenges and appealed for support.