Obuasi, April 9, GNA - Nana Asirifi Asare II, Presiding Member of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, has appealed to assembly members to help check the rampant stealing of cables belonging to the Ghana Telecom (GT).

His appeal followed the revelation that Obuasi was the most hostile community to the operations of GT in terms of the rate at which the company's cables were being stolen. Nana Asirifi Asare said it was important for the entire Obuasi community to help reverse the situation since effective telecommunication system was a tool for development. At an open forum branded as "Town Hall Meeting" organised by GT at Obuasi to solicit public views, suggestions and complaints about their services, the Ashanti Regional Director of GT, Mr Jonathan Kessey-Antwi expressed concern about the way the company was losing huge revenue as a result of the cable thefts.

He pointed out that the cables were expensive and that the rate at which people were stealing them at Obuasi was alarming. Mr Kessey-Antwi added his voice to the call for the Obuasi community to assist GT to address the problem which was having negative impact on their service delivery. The Regional Director explained that the meeting was important to the company because it afforded them the opportunity to listen to customers' complaints and address them for improved services. Mr Selorm Fianu, the Obuasi Area Manager of GT, who spoke on the "Status of Obuasi Network", regretted that cables that would have served more than 200 customers at Bossman, Brahabebome and Akapoliso had been stolen.

He said GT was doing everything possible to offer efficient services to customers in the municipality with the presence of a modern Alcatel switch that could serve 5,000 customers. Mr Fianu reminded the participants that GT's award of 1,000 Ghana cedis and 500 Ghana cedis for those who arrest cable thieves and those who volunteer information for their arrest respectively was still in force.

The Regional Customer Care Manager, Mr Adu Dansoh, said the company wanted to be closer to its customers that was why 'Care for You' centres had been established to handle customer complaints. "In addition, we have call centres where customers called for any assistance in all GT products", he said. 9 April 08