The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Dr. Rashid Tanko Computer, has issued a strong call to action to telecommunications service providers across the country, urging them to fulfill their statutory obligations under the Electronic Communications Act.
Speaking on the sidelines at the launch of the government’s landmark ‘One Million Coders’ initiative, aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with digital skills, Dr. Tanko Computer lamented the widespread non-compliance by service providers in contributing the mandated 1% of their annual investments to GIFEC, a fund critical to the expansion of rural telephony and digital inclusion programmes.
“Most people don’t know this, but under the law, all licensed service providers accredited by the National Communications Authority are required to contribute 1% of their investment to GIFEC,” he said.
“Unfortunately, only a handful; MTN, Telecel, AT, and about four others, have been honouring this obligation. Meanwhile, we have over 200 licensed service providers in Ghana.”
Dr. Tanko Computer emphasized that this lack of contribution has significantly hampered GIFEC’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“This year, we are going after those who have defaulted. It’s not a witch-hunt; it’s about ensuring fairness and sustainability,” he noted.
“Ghanaians deserve to benefit from these investments, and we are counting on every stakeholder to support the government’s digital agenda.”
The CEO also criticized the previous administration, describing it as “too relaxed” in enforcing compliance, which he believes contributed to missed opportunities in expanding digital infrastructure and services to hard-to-reach areas.
“If this had been enforced years ago, GIFEC would have been miles ahead in bringing rural telephony to the door-step,” he asserted.
“Millions of cedis have been lost in the process, and that’s unacceptable.”
He stressed that mobilizing these funds is crucial for sustaining programmes such as the One Million Coders initiative, which not only targets young people but is already attracting interest from adult learners and even traditional leaders.
“I saw some chiefs in the Ashanti Region who said they also want to enroll. This shows how powerful this initiative can be in transforming communities,” he said.
Dr. Tanko Computer called on media platforms and digital networks to help amplify the importance of compliance, and urged all defaulting entities to take immediate steps to fulfill their financial commitments to the fund.
“We’re not asking for anything new. Just what is due, so we can empower more Ghanaians through digital access, training, and tools.”
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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