Oti Region communities cry out for telecom infrastructure as poor network blocks education and jobs

Residents of seven communities in the Jasikan Municipality's Akaa Electoral Area are facing a digital crisis. Assembly Member George Yeboah has issued an urgent appeal to the government and major telecommunications operators to install a communications mast in the area, warning that chronic poor network coverage is undermining education, employment prospects and basic family communication across the region.

The seven affected communities—Akaa Quarters, Akaa Adzamasi, Akaa Dzokpokofe, Akaa Bompa, Akaa Twingyina, Akaa Tankey and Akaa Kyrikasa—have suffered from weak and unreliable mobile signals for an extended period. Yeboah, popularly known as Teapot, has directly appealed to Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George and telecom operators MTN, AirtelTigo and Telecel to treat the matter as urgent priority.

The human cost of poor connectivity

The impact extends far beyond inconvenience. Elderly residents struggle to maintain regular contact with family members across the country, whilst young people find themselves locked out of opportunities increasingly dependent on reliable internet access. Students cannot access online learning platforms or research resources; job seekers cannot apply for employment digitally; small entrepreneurs cannot reach customers or manage online transactions.

Yeboah emphasised that this infrastructure gap is not merely a communication problem—it represents a significant barrier to broader development. Communities without reliable connectivity become economically isolated, unable to participate fully in Ghana's digital economy or access essential online services from government agencies, financial institutions and educational providers.

Why it matters for Ghana

This appeal reflects a broader challenge facing Ghana's digital inclusion agenda. Whilst urban centres and major towns benefit from competitive telecom coverage, rural and semi-rural areas across the regions remain underserved. The Oti Region, created in 2019, has struggled with infrastructure deficits in several areas, and telecommunications coverage remains patchy in many electoral areas.

For Ghana's development goals—whether educational improvement, youth employment, agricultural modernisation or small business growth—reliable digital connectivity is no longer optional. The National Digital Transformation Strategy and various government initiatives depend on foundational telecom infrastructure reaching communities nationwide. When such infrastructure is absent, entire populations effectively fall behind, unable to benefit from e-learning, digital financial services, telemedicine, or market access platforms that increasingly define economic opportunity.

The appeal also highlights the tension between commercial viability and social equity. Telecommunications operators naturally prioritise areas with higher population density and revenue potential. However, Ghana's vision of inclusive development requires mechanisms—whether through incentives, regulation or public-private partnership—to ensure that peripheral communities are not permanently excluded from the digital economy.

Next steps and expectations

Yeboah's call is now with the relevant government authorities and private sector actors. The Ministry of Communications, working with the National Communications Authority, oversees telecom regulation and expansion policy. Whether through direct government intervention, regulatory incentives for operators, or collaborative infrastructure projects, the pathway to resolution requires coordinated action.

For residents of Akaa and surrounding communities, the wait for reliable connectivity continues. The Assembly Member has made the case clear: a single telecommunications mast could unlock transformative opportunities for education, employment and economic participation. The question now is how quickly the responsible authorities will respond.