Accra (Greater Accra), 7th July 99 -

The Ministry of Communications is collecting data from potential communities, which can benefit from the extension of telephone facilities.

The sector Minister, Mr John Mahama who announced this in Parliament on Tuesday during "Question Time", said the extension would depend on demand for telephone lines.

Mr Mahama was reacting to a questioner, who wanted to know the Ministry's plans to provide Tease, in the Afram Plains South constituency, with telephone facilities to enhance socio-economic activities in the area.

He told the questioner, Mr Kwakye Addo, MP for the area, that the Ghana Telecom's current development programme for 1999 to 2003, does not cover Tease, but if the demand in the area is adequate, the extension would be undertaken.

The Minister said currently, 60 per cent of district capitals have been provided with telecommunication services, adding that it is the commitment of the government to connect the remaining districts to the national telecommunication system.

He announced that a feasibility study is currently being undertaken in the northern part of the country for a possible introduction of a rural telecommunication service.

If the study proves positive, a rural telephone company would be licensed to provide telecommunication services in the communities.

Asked how the Volta Region, especially Kpando, would fit into the scheme, Mr Mahama said part of the region is covered by Capital Telecom, a rural telecommunication service provider, and that Kpando would be connected to the national system by 2001.

On the introduction of a pre-paid card system to enable people to make calls in the comfort of their homes, the Minister said under the expansion programme of Ghana Telecom, this novelty is being considered to allow people to make calls to any part of the country.

Asked what measures the Ministry is taking to remedy the frequent breakdown of telephones at Donkorkrom, the Afram Plains District capital, Mr Mahama said the Ghana Telecom resolved the problem since April, this year.