The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) is using the rural telephony and Digital Inclusion project to reduce cost of providing network service which could have been done by the telecom firms.

This is due to the provision of modern technology to ensure that all mobile devices are able to connect unto any of the telecom network services.

According to Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, government is deploying these technologies to ensure that rural folks are not left out of the digital economy.

The Minister was speaking to commission additional two rural telephony cell sites for Dantano and Anwiem in the Ahafo region.

“The project is very critical to our digital inclusion project and we cannot wait for the telecom companies to do it alone because it may not be fast as we expected”.

“As a government, we’re using this initiative to reduce the cost of providing network services by the telecom companies by about 60% per our projections. We hope to do more” she said.

Earlier, GIFEC also commissioned a cyber-laboratory for the Apenamedi Basic School, also in the Ahafo region.

GIFEC is the key Programmes & Projects Implementation Agency of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, mandated to bridge the existing digital divide in the country.

Speaking at the commissioning, Administrator of GIFEC, Prince Ofosu-Sefah, said the Fund is committed to provide the necessary tools to ensure quality network service across the country.

“Our role in government’s digitalisation agenda cannot be overemphasized”.

 “Over the years, GIFEC has played a pivotal role in the provision and facilitation of innovative solutions, which includes robust infrastructure to connect the most rural communities, geared towards ensuring the inclusion of every citizen in the digital economy, for socioeconomic development” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Fund will also be establishing an ultra-modern ICT laboratory for the best 20 schools that emerged from the just ended Girls in ICT programme in the region.

A 12 year old, Juliet Delali, a pupil from the Sankore D/A JHS emerged the overall winner.