President John Mahama has paid glowing tribute to the late Edward Salia for playing a pioneering role in the expansion of telecom facilities across the country.

The president gave the adulation during the commissioning of the regional office of the National Communications Authority in Tamale in the Northern Region.

"As you are aware the  transformation of our telecom sector started in the 90s, specifically in 1997 after we had formulated the accelerated framework for expansion of telecoms in Ghana under the supervision of the late and very well remembered Edward Salia.

The late Salia was Communications Minister under the Rawlings-led regime.

"He was the pioneer of the expansion of telecommunications in this country. Those of us who succeeded him took off from where he left off and began the work of implementing the accelerated framework for the expansion of telecoms," the president intimated.

He said a key part of the accelerated expansion of telecoms was the establishment of a regulator which began as a fledgling institution.

"There were many challenges... but i must say all of us in the ministry and NCA persevered and today we can look back with pride and see how far we have come in terms of telecom expansion and ICT in Ghana," the president stressed.

He said Ghana has been identified as one of the emerging countries behind the BRIC countries (Brazil, China, India South Africa etc), with ICT seen as the backbone for Ghana's development.

The president also commissioned the regional office of National Health Insurance Authority in Tamale.

Joy News TV's Gifty Andoh reported the president later met with the Chiefs and people of Nalerugu in the Mamprusi District of the Northern Region.

Naa Abdulai Sheriga therefore appealed to government to construct a number of development projects, including road networks, a module SHS and an upgraded health centre for use by the residents in the district.

The president is expected to proceed to Bunmprugu to commission a water project, Andoh reported.