The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is set-up by law under the Ministry of Communications to facilitate access and use of ICTs in unserved and underserved communities. As part of efforts to expand access and use of ICTs in rural communities in Ghana, GIFEC commissioned the “Fiber to the Community” programme as a potential to use aerial fiber technology, as smarter, quicker and cheaper way of deploying last mile solution to neglected rural communities in Ghana. The objective of this initiative seeks to leverage on the use of the existing electricity power poles and aerial fiber of the power distribution companies in its deployment of last mile solutions to provide secure and robust broadband connectivity for a digital and smart Ghana. The impact of this project has been enormous. First, through the Digital for Inclusion project is access to improved digital financial services in the unserved and underserved communities. Again, it has also enhanced access to the internet in areas, which hitherto had no form of connectivity. As part of Government ongoing digitization agenda, the roll-out of this intervention has also facilitated key government initiatives such as National Digital and Property Addressing System and the National Identification Card.

//www.gifec.gov.gh

• Asumura, Asankragwa, Sefwi Wiawso, Akontonbra, Ghana

• Remote and rural communities

The basic infrastructure which is usually the power grid is almost ubiquitous in most countries and rural communities. The new technology adopted basically is to leverage on the existing electricity power lines to deploy broadband connectivity to rural and remote communities. Anywhere there is electricity , there could be broadband.

The project adopts an effective partnership model through a Tripartite Business Model which comprised of the key implementing entities such as GIFEC, the Utility Service Providers (ECG, GRIDco) and the Private Contractor. In our estimation, the commercialization of this technology, can most certainly result in a substantial additional revenue stream for the utility providers. Again, this collaboration will further help in the expansion of electricity to more unserved and underserved communities in Ghana.

The project has brought about financial inclusion in the unserved and underserved communities which hitherto had no form of connectivity. Rural dwellers can now send and receive money locally and internationally. ICT literacy education in basic and senior high schools in these unserved and underserved communities have also improved tremendously. Again as part of effort at formalizing the Ghanaian economy by the Ghana Government, this project has facilitated key government projects such as the National Property and Digitize Addressing System and the National Identification Card System.