As parts of efforts to extend voice and data services to all unserved and underserved rural communities by the end of 2020, Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says the government will construct some 2,000 sites in its Rural Telephony poject.

According to her, each site will connect some 500 people in each community, which gives the indication that several millions of people will be connected to the data service and voice services when the project is launched.

“We’re going to be building some 2,000 sites for the project and if each site connects 500 people, that can give you an idea that several millions that will connected and it is imperative that we do that.

“98 percent of the questions that I as Communications Minister get from Parliament are about when communities in the constituencies of the various MP's will be connected because around the country side, everybody is yearning to use voice and data services.”

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb explained that the move is necessary to facilitate E-Education, E-Health, E-Commerce, trade, and digital financial services in rural communities.

“Without connectivity, we can’t do that and it is not right that it is only in the big cities and district capitals that we have data and voice connectivity. As a government, we believe that everybody should be connected and we want to send connectivity to all parts of the country,” she added.

The Communications Minister added that government is currently looking at the financing options to enable the project to roll out this year.