Accra, May 17, GNA - Government of Ghana under a cooperative arrangement with Huawei Technology Company of China has commenced the construction of a national communications fibre optic backbone with the view of linking Tamale in time before the Can 2008 soccer fiesta. The national communication fibre optic network is aimed at enhancing the provision of communication services as well as support e-government application nation wide.

Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Deputy Minister ofCommunications said this in a statement in Parliament on Thursday on the occasion of World Telecom and Information Society Day.

The Deputy Minister therefore stressed the importance of the project and appealed to the various agencies working on the project to expedite work on the acquisition of selected sites and the granting of rights of way to enable the contractors execute the project on schedule. The project when completed will enhance telephone and television link up between not only the Tamale venue, but the rest of the sites for the event to facilitate easy transmission of information.

Construction works on the four venue sites to host the event is going on schedule and the Inspection Team of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) who recently visited the sites expressed general satisfaction with the progress of work.

The works involves the construction of two new stadiums in Tamale and Essipong near Sekondi whilst the Ohene Djan and Baba Yara stadiums at Accra and Kumasi are being refurbished.