Rural Access: Options and Challenges for Connectivity and Energy in Ghana (2008)

It is part of a wider initiative by IICD to prepare a series of reports about connectivity and Internet access in rural areas with its partners. The purpose is to enable organisations engaged in rural development to make informed decisions about rural connectivity and Internet access in Ghana.

This report is a study on Internet connectivity and energy situations in rural communities in Ghana . Methods used include face-to-face interviews, telephone discussions, e-mail and a desk review. 

• Results of the data that was analysed revealed that the majority of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Ghana are located in the capital city, Accra.  A few service providers have a presence in one or two regional capitals and mining communities around the country. A few others provide Wide Area Network connectivity via Virtual Private Networks to banks with branches dotted around the country. 

• The study identified that a rural community in Ghana is a deprived community which lacks telecom infrastructure, electricity and sometimes appropriate buildings.  It is also a community with less than 5,000 inhabitants whose preoccupation may be largely agricultural. It further revealed that the absence of meaningful economic activity and skilled personnel make these locations unattractive for investors. 

• The study also revealed that Ghana has an electricity supply deficiency following long periods of erratic rainfall which causes the hydro plant that generates the bulk of the country’s energy requirements to dry up. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind and biomass are not well-known and have not been exploited yet, but are considered potential sources to supplement hydro power generation and have been discussed. 

• The report finds that the status of Internet connectivity and energy in rural Ghana is not very encouraging. Recent developments within the sector, however, with funding support from the Chinese Government and the World Bank to facilitate the extension of a fibre optic network throughout the entire country, as well as addressing the energy shortfalls, hold high promise for the country and give reason for excitement. 

The next couple of years will witness developments in the ICT landscape and this guide is intended to provide some insights into the critical issues of Internet Connectivity options, Internet applications that can be deployed, chargeable rates, opportunities for strategic partnerships, and renewable energy sources. 

The report is an evolutionary document and future revised editions will continue to address many more issues that will be of significant interest for the development and growth of the industry.