Cable thefts crippling Ghana Telecom

Cape Coast, Feb. 15, GNA - Mr. Joseph Tinagyei-Gyimah, Central Regional Manager of Ghana Telecom (GT), has said the company made a loss of GH¢460,000 in 2007 as a result of cable thefts throughout the country and that this was crippling the company.

Ghana Telecom has therefore set some funds aside to reward people whose tip offs would lead to the arrest of cable thieves. The reward ranges between 1,000 Ghana cedis and 500 Ghana cedis. Mr. Tinagyei-Gyimah said this at a soiree organized by Ghana Telecom for the media in the Central Region.

He said last year Ghana Telecom gave GH¢30,000 to people who aided in the arrest of cable thieves and appealed to the courts to speed up trials of cable thieves.

On the performance of the company, Mr. Tinagyei-Gyimah said Ghana Telecom had over the last few years worked on a 100 percent revenue collection strategy and has experienced remarkable growth particularly in the area of its cell phone services "Onetouch". Major Albert Don-Chebe (RTD), Head of Corporate Communications, said although "Onetouch" was the last to arrive on the cell phone market, its customers have so far exceeded that of its competitors and that this was an indication that the company was doing well. He said Ghana Telecom has extended internet broadband services to all regional capitals except Sunyani. It will, by the beginning of the second quarter of 2008, connect 20 more district capitals to Ghana Telecom Internet Broadband Services".