From Leroy Maxwell Sonpon | Contributor |
As a renewed commitment of the well-being of his citizens to join the rest of the citizenry in enjoying telecommunications on Monday a wave of joy and gladness came visible when residents of Forpoh- Paluken in Grand Kru County got the news of the erection of a towel for the provision of available communications services, the Liberian leader, President George M. Weah through the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Affairs Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah formally dedicated the Universal Access Tower in the area for the first time in 36 years.
More than 7,000 people of Forpoh-Paluken and in other towns are expected to benefit from the Universal Access Tower without walking miles to get signal.
The construction and installation of the tower (base station) is the first ever tower for the people to have access to communication and internet since the creation of Grand Kru County in 1984.
Speaking at the dedication, Minister Kruah said President Weah hasn’t forgotten about Grand Kru, and this one of many developments underway.
He said Lone Star MTN was consulted to be the first network on the access tower, and other networks are expected soon.
Commissioner Israel Akinsanya, said the project was funded by the Universal Access Fund, a program set up by the telecommunications act to provide services into areas where service providers have failed to provide services due to economic reasons.
Mr. Akinsanya said the projects are part of the ITC for Development Program by the LTA and its partners. He indicated that besides Grand Kru another tower has been built in Gbarpolu.
“The LTA and its partners are very happy to impact the lives of the Liberian people because this is what the LTA was established to do through the development of telecommunications infrastructure in the country contrary to public perception that LTA is to only collect revenue for government,” Mr. Akinsanya said.
He announced that the Ghanaian company, K-net which was duly contracted to erect and install the tower presented the gifts to the President, and the President diverted the gifts, about 300 Android Phones, will be freely donated to the people of Parluken-Forpoh as added Christmas gifts to people of Parluken-Forpoh.
He also donated on behalf of the President, charging phone board, which has 300 sockets to charge phones.
Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa said the President has sent him money through mobile money to buy sim cards and scratch cards for the 300 phones.
“One behalf of the President, besides the access tower, your will receive free phones, free sim cards and free scratch cards,” Rep. Koffa said receiving the President’s gifts.
Cllr. Koffa said the installation and construction of the Universal Access Tower falls under pillar two of the Pro Poor Addenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) which has to do with economic and jobs for the people.
He furthered, it will impact the economic lives of the people and will enable them have access to mobile money and other E-Commerce services.
The site selection of the Universal Access Tower was through the lobbying efforts of the Grand Kru County District #2 lawmaker as part of representation and oversight, two of the cardinal duties of a Representative. The installation of the tower cut the hearts of residents in Forpoh-Paluken for Rep. Koffa despite accumulating very low votes in that part of the district during the 2017 election
The 120 feet telecommunication tower (base tower) includes a modern 7.3 meters satellite receiver and a 5kw solar module will power communication services that include voice and 4G mobile broadband data services to towns within eight miles radius Forpoh-Paluken.
It may be recalled, from the moment the town crier announced the dedication of Universal Access Tower on Friday to be held on Monday, the people of Forpoh – Paluken started having night singing and dances. Some began to engaged in compulsory brushing along the roads, while the women without been told divided themselves in sections to cook, “Thank you President George M. Weah and Representative J. Fonati Koffa,” noted
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