Ghana is the third in the league of countries where people look for love on the internet, a global survey conducted by the BBC World Service shows, a Reuters report indicates.
The survey interviewed 10,976 adults who had used the Internet in the previous six months across 19 countries, and was conducted for BBC World Service by polling firm GlobeScan.
According to the survey 30% of web users regard the Internet as a good place to find love.
The poll revealed that Pakistan and India are the two countries with the greatest numbers of enthusiasts for Internet match-making followed by Ghana. The survey found that 60% of Pakistanis, 59% of Indians and 47% of Ghanaians look for love on the Internet.
Other countries follow in this order, the Philippines, 42% . By contrast, the report indicates, fewer Americans, 21% and 26% of South Koreans. 28% of British and the French, 27% think the idea of finding a partner online is a good one.
Commenting, Sam Mountford, GlobeScan Research Director says, “this shows what a major role the Internet now plays in the lives of millions of people around the world.”
“For many, and particularly in the developing world, it’s not just somewhere to work, shop, or communicate with friends, but a credible way of finding a partner in life,” he adds.
However, the results also suggest that those with a higher level of education are less likely to regard the Internet as a good place for romance – 28% of those with a university education felt it was, compared to 36% of those who had not completed high school.
This survey is an indicator that disputes the argument put up by some Ghanaians that the low internet penetration in the country does not make doing business on the internet viable.
Even though Ghana is the first country in West Africa to launch the Internet in 1993, the country ranks 28, out of 56 countries on the continent when it comes to Internet penetration, an official of MTN Ghana has said according to a report by the GNA.
Mr. Eric Akumiah, Secretary of the Internet Society, Ghana told the media in 2008 that Internet usage in Ghana was a mere 2.7 per cent as compared to 5.3 per cent in Africa.
Ghana was also among the first countries in Africa to introduce ADSL broadband services.
A 2008 data from the National Communications Authority (NCA) puts the number of Ghanaians with access to the Internet at 1.5 million.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi
Please, prices of internet connection and moderms in Ghana should be reduced and also upgraded so that people can get access to the internet, since it educate people, esp. students, and also makes work easier. Thank you.