GSM Enabling Rural Computer Centers in Ghana

A model communication centre developed for rural and pre-urban communities, under an Information Communication Technologies, (ICT) project dubbed eCARE, has been envisaged to revolutionarise communications in Ghana's rural areas. Initially, the centers will offer telephony and fax services with computers and internet access following shortly.

eCARE is an acronym for e-commerce and renewable energy in rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana. eCARE has been a community phone project by Ghana Telecom since February 2005.

The eCARE project is a joint effort of the United Nations Foundations, (UNF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ARB Apex Bank, Kumasi Institute for Technology and Environment (KITE), Telenor Management Partner (TMP), and Ghana Telecom, (GT)

Sadly, these rural communication centres will only be available in areas where GT has ONEtouch GSM coverage. In April to October 2004, a pre-feasibility study sponsored by UNF and TMP implemented by KITE, GT and UNEP was carried out.

The Chief Executive Officer of GT, Mr. Oystein Bjorge, noted that even though communication could be a vehicle for development in the rural areas, it is not effective there, thus the need to embrace UNF's eCARE idea.

"Communication is not a game but a vehicle to bring development. Therefore services by entrepreneurs must be relevant to communities."

According to the project Manager, Anita Skagnaes, local Ghanaian entrepreneurs will be identified, screened and recruited to operate the rural business centres offering ICT service and value added services enabled by renewable energy.

"The eCARE project will offer streamlined support package to qualified rural entrepreneurs, training, pre-produced eCARE centre, follow up financial support, bulk airtime at affordable prices and discounted equipment with service agreement through project", she stated.

She said rural participants will be required to certify under eCARE training programme, provide equity and suitable location for placement of eCARE, provide equity and suitable location for placement of eCARE centre, offer rural telephony and other approved services at reasonable rates, as well as cover all operating expenses and amortisation.

Currently, the first eCARE demonstrating centre is completed while a pilot project is scheduled to start at the end of May with the establishment of three eCARE Rural Business Centres at Nkurakan, Sege and Sogakope in the Accra, Eastern and Volta Regions respectively.

Mrs Harriet Amisasah Arthur, of the Kumasi Institute for Technology and Environment, said, it is time for the country to move communication from the urban centres to the rural areas.

She said there is an enterprise development aspect which seeks to design projects to educate the rural folks as they are not ICT inclined.

She cited India as one of the few countries where eCARE has made an impact. She said here the farmers are able to assess and use information on agriculture processes left by experts."

Posted to the site on 1st June 2005