Deputy Minister-designate for Communications and Member of Parliament for Sissala West, Mohammed Adam Sukparu, has pledged to work closely with his minister, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, to bridge Ghana’s persistent digital divide, particularly in underserved rural areas.
He promised to leverage his energy, experience, and strong working relationship with the sector minister to achieve critical targets, including accelerating the Rural Telephony Programme and expanding digital literacy across the country.
Hon. Sukparu gave the assurance when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting on Friday, July 25.
Also Read: Gov’t shifts to peace enforcement in Bawku as violence escalates
Addressing a question on the deployment of 5G services, he noted that the Minister had indicated the license could be revoked if rollout had not commenced by the end of the year. “When given the nod, I will get myself abreast with all the issues and assist my minister to implement the policies effectively,” he said.
Responding to concerns about limited access to ICT tools in schools and poor internet connectivity in rural communities, the nominee reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the ongoing Rural Telephony Programme. “I am aware that about 2,016 sites are at various stages of implementation. When given the nod, I will support my minister to ensure the programme comes to fruition,” he added.
He also emphasised the importance of partnerships in promoting digital education, particularly through collaboration with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the Ministry of Education. According to him, the current CEO of GIFEC is touring the country to collect data on schools without ICT materials, and he expressed his willingness to join these efforts to ensure no school is left behind.
On the issue of cybersecurity and the rising menace of online impersonation of public officials, Sukparu acknowledged the role of the Cyber Security Authority. He revealed that Members of Parliament have been advised to submit their official social media accounts for verification and pledged his support for the initiative to safeguard the digital identities of public officials.
When asked how he would address telecom companies’ reluctance to invest in rural areas, the nominee highlighted the strategic role of GIFEC and affirmed his commitment to driving infrastructure rollout in underserved communities.
On digital skills development, Hon. Sukparu spoke about the ongoing policy to train one million Ghanaian youth in coding and digital literacy. “I will assist my minister to ensure full implementation of this programme. It’s the only way we can truly prepare our youth for the digital economy,” he noted.
Members of the Committee expressed confidence in the nominee’s capabilities, citing his collaborative history with Hon. Sam George and their shared vision for Ghana’s digital transformation.