By: Belinda Nketia
In an exclusive interview with Maltiti Sayida Sadiq on the GTV Breakfast Show today, 19th February 2025, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Dr. Sofo Tanko Rashid Computer, highlighted the organization’s plans to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Ghana.
Dr. Rashid emphasized the importance of increasing digital knowledge in rural communities, where technology is often limited to basic phone calls. According to him, the establishment of centres like Community Information Centres (CICs) plays a crucial role in teaching simple IT skills to rural populations. These centres aim to empower individuals with the knowledge of how to use their phones, laptops, desktops, and other smart devices beyond basic functions.
Dr. Rashid acknowledged that many rural communities are unaware of the digital opportunities available to them, a gap that GIFEC is focused on addressing.
He revealed plans to rebrand and reset GIFEC’s corporate affairs department to ensure better communication and visibility of the services provided. “We cannot be providing services to the people who are supposed to benefit from and they don’t even know,” he said.
In response to concerns from some communities about poor network coverage, Dr. Rashid assured that GIFEC is committed to addressing these challenges.
“We hear a lot of communities saying they don’t have network, they can’t make calls, and they even have to climb trees sometimes to get signal,” he explained.
GIFEC is working to provide reliable network access through a dedicated fund, with telecommunication providers collaborating to expand infrastructure in underserved and unserved areas.
He further stated that digitalization could be key to overcoming many of Ghana’s development challenges.
In a bid to reduce unemployment, Dr. Rashid outlined an ambitious plan to engage one million Ghanaian youth. The initiative will see these young people employed to help operate and manage the CICs, creating new job opportunities while enhancing the digital literacy of rural communities.
GIFEC is an agency under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, with the mandate to facilitate universal access to basic telephony and electronic communications in the country, particularly in underserved and unserved communities.
Dr. Sofo Tanko Rashid Computer is currently the Acting CEO.
