A new Internet service known as "e-mail for Every Ghanaian" that provides the largest pool of Internet service to users was launched in Accra today. The service by Africa Online, one of four Internet service providers in Ghana, is available at a number of communication centers in Accra, which have the facility. Others are to be opened soon in the regional capitals.

Mr Kwadwo Owusu, Sales and Marketing Manager of Africa Online, said the 'e-mail for Every Ghanaian' is an innovation in internet service which seeks to bring the internet to the man in the street and at the same time catapult Ghana to the forefront of the information age. It is also aimed at bringing more business opportunities, jobs, quality of life to Ghanaians through easy access to the largest pool of information and communication in the world no matter their financial standing or geographical location. Africa Online has branches in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Ivory Coast. The company hopes to open new offices soon in Uganda, Zambia and South Africa. Commander Pius M. G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Communications, who launched the product, said the development of digital technology and the advent of the personal computers have transformed the world. He said technology is vital for the rapid development of a country adding that "if Ghana has to be competitive in the emerging global information society then we need to aggressively hold on to this too. He said as the country modernizes, the impact of communication would continue to oil the wheels of the economy to enhance national development.

Cdr. Griffiths said it was for this purpose that the government set up the Ministry of Communications to harness the full potential of such resources for accelerated development. He said the introduction of private participation in Ghana Telecom (GT) is meant to advance such creative and economically viable ventures. These positive changes, he said, have led to an increase in the quantity of phones and quality of telecommunications in the country. Since the privatization of Ghana Telecom a year ago, it has increased phone lines from 78,900 to 130,000 as at December 1997. Cdr. Griffiths said a second operator is soon coming on stream and is expected to offer a minimum of 50,000 lines in five years.