The Ghana Internet Service Providers' Association (GISPA) has welcomed the announcement by government to work with the telecommunication firms and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to rollout fiber across the country.

This, the GISPA believed, would allow every citizen to have access to high-speed broadband.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, announced it during the presentation of the 2020 mid-year budget to Parliament on July 23.

Mr Ofori-Atta alluded that the future of the country hinged on the digitization of the economy, which internet accessibility was an essential commodity, explaining government's resolve to speed up efforts for each citizen to access internet.

In a statement issued by the Management of GISPA on Wednesday, said one of its key mandates was to drive widespread adoption of internet access and services throughout the country.

"We have, over the years, done so as individual businesses with efforts from some governmental agencies like the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). It is our understanding that the latest announcement will step up all the efforts in ensuring that Ghana, just like many other countries in the world, will benefit from the connected world,"it said.

Mr Richard Densu, the President of GISPA, said it was important that all the key players in the industry were well consulted for the rollout of the policy to achieve the desired impact of boosting the country's broadband access.

The GISPA President noted that one of the most important cost determinants of the broadband connectivity across the world was the associated cost of trenching.

He said the use of the Utility poles would not only reduce the cost of laying fiber, but would also go a long way to speed up the rollout of internet services across the country.
It is, therefore, our greatest hope that the modalities for the implementation of the initiative would be spelt out as soon as possible.

"Internet Service Providers in Ghana invest hugely in laying fiber, both as business development strategy and as commitment to expanding internet connectivity to all parts of the country despite the huge investment many of our members have had the cause to complain about the numerous fiber cuts that disrupts our ability to offer the best of services to our valued customers.

"We wish to reiterate our call on individuals and contractors across board to be mindful of the fact that Section 77 and 78 of the Electronic Communications Act 2008 (Act 775) makes fiber cut a criminal offence.

It is in our collective interest that such an important national asset is protected at all times." Mr Densu stated.