Digital Telephone Exchange for Volta Region

A total of 1,000 of a projected 4,000 line capacity digital telephone exchange would become operational in Kpando in March this year, Mr Douglas Wagba, Volta Regional Director of Ghana Telecom Company (GT) announced on Friday.

He said installation works, which started in 1999 were in their final

stages and when completed, would bring to 11,000 the total number of telephone lines in the region.

Mr. Wagba was briefing, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister and Officials of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) who were in Kpando to see at first hand progress of work on the exchange.

Mr Wagba said 16 'pay' telephone booths would be provided in the town pending the completion of the company's offices.

He said the company was evaluating the possibility of redeploying existing radio link equipment to serve parts of the region without telephone facilities.

Mr Wagba expressed concern about power trips at the Kpando exchange and the high cost of running for long hours on a stand-by generator.

"We are a company and must make profit and we expect whatever investments we make to bring adequate returns."

Mr Owusu-Yeboa expressed satisfaction with progress of work and urged the company to complete the project on schedule.