Ghana would complete digital switchover ahead of 2014 deadline – Minister

Cabinet has approved a policy document and a roadmap to complete the digital switchover by 2014, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications said on Wednesday.

He said government would pursue in earnest the roll out of a nationwide Digital Terrestrial Television by 2012, adding that the expectation was that the digital switchover would be completed in 2013 ahead of the deadline.

Mr Iddrisu was speaking at the three-day workshop on Digital Switchover and Spectrum Harmonisation in Africa organised by Kemilinks International in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Accra.

He said the “digital dividend” afforded many African countries the opportunity to facilitate national development especially in providing leverage in areas as e-health, e-commerce and e-governance.

Mr Iddrisu called on the participants, drawn from 15 African countries including Ghana, to consider practical steps that could be taken to harmonise the use of digital dividend in the 700 megahertz band, which had been discussed as part of the Africa common proposals for the next year’s World Radio Communication Conference in 2012.

From the event, the Communication Minister, in the company of Vice President John Dramani Mahama, attended the sod-cutting ceremony for the NCA office complex.

Mr Iddrisu said the government had directed the NCA to “show its presence” in all the 10 regions to ensure that customers could have their grievances addressed.

He said construction of NCA offices would commence in Tamale, Sekondi-Takoradi in December 2011 whiles work is expected to begin in Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions in 2012.

Source: GNA