Ghana Telecom will extend mobile phone facilities from Kumasi to Northern Ghana by the end of the year, Mr Samuel Kwaie, Upper West Regional Head of the company said on Thursday at Wa.

He said Synchronons Digital Hierrarchy (SDH) equipment has been procured for the exercise, which would originally run from Kumasi to Tamale before it is extended to Bolgatanga and Wa. Mr Kwaie said this when the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Sahanun Mogtari paid his maiden visit to the offices of Ghana Telecom and Ghana Post to acquaint himself with their problems and how best to solve them.

Mr Kwaie said non-availability of electricity to power for the system at some of the communities where the company would operate is delaying the programme.

He said there are 3,000 customer service lines in the Region but 1,328 are being utilised and promised more telephone booths would be provided.

Mr Mogtari urged Ghana Telecom not to take advantage of their monopoly to offer efficient services to customers and step up its monitoring unit to check misuse of booths by unscrupulous persons.