Residents of Wawasua in the Sunyani East Municipality of the Bono Region are vocal about the urgent need for better mobile network coverage.

Faced with poor connectivity, they struggle to maintain communication with family, handle business transactions, and engage in daily activities. Many have expressed their frustration, stating that the lack of reliable network service significantly impacts their lives.

One resident shared with Channel One News, “The network issue is our biggest problem and is causing us significant difficulties.” Another added, “I have to travel to Sunyani just to conduct online business.”

Residents are calling on telecommunication companies to extend their services to the area, emphasizing that the current situation is impeding their economic and personal lives. Some have even resorted to climbing trees or buildings to get a signal, although this has led to further issues with property owners.“We climb trees before we’re able to make phone calls, or we climb a storey building, but the owner of the storey building has warned us to stay off his property. If the government fails to resolve our network issue, we will not vote in this election.”

The local Assembly has promised to address the situation and is working to involve the necessary authorities to resolve the connectivity issues. In the meantime, residents have warned that if their concerns are not addressed, they may choose not to participate in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

In February 2024, Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful revealed that government constructed 1,010 out of the 2,016 Rural Telephony Sites to be constructed, to extend mobile network coverage to approximately 4 million residents of selected unserved and underserved communities.

In a press statement issued on February 18, the Minister indicated that out of the 1,010 sites constructed, 618 of them are already operational, offering essential Voice and Data services.

She noted that citizens in about 1,620 rural communities can now make calls and use data services, thereby enhancing social and economic activities in these communities.