As means of improving the country’s telecommunication sector, the Government of Liberia has officially dedicated the second mobile base station tower in Gbarpolu County through its Universal Access Program.
The Universal Access Program is a joint initiative by the Liberian government and its partners through the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), as the dedication ceremony brought face-to-face several government officials including town and paramount chiefs.
Speaking during the ceremony in Gbarngba-borqueta, Bokomu District, LTA Commissioner for Government and Consumers’ Affairs, Israel Akinsany, said the dedication is the milestone achievement for the country as it is the right of every Liberian to have access to telecommunications and internet.
According to him, the LTA and other actors in government decided to intervene into areas where mobile phones companies were reluctant to invest by giving them access to telecommunications services, thereby urged community residents to take care of the facility by keeping it safe, clean and well protected.
He added, “This tower’s construction started since March but we slow down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am grateful that today December 4, 2020 we are here to turn it over to you. Right now, it is only LoneStar Cell that you can talk through to the rest of the world with while Orange will follow later.”
The LTA Commissioner for Government and Consumer Affairs however presented about 250 mobile phones and accessories including power banks to residents of Gbarngba-borqueta as a gift from President George Manneh Weah.
Gbarpolu County Development Superintendent, Joseph Arkoi, lauded the government and its partners for the tower stating that residents of the town and county were excited by the development and the economic impact the base station will make in their lives.
He averred, “I am excited because the facility is a modern solar technology which will enable us not to worry about the cost of fuel oil. This charging station will enable us who are living in the town to charge up to 300 phones at a time and this is welcoming for the county.
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunication Deputy Minister, Edward Goba, also thanked the LTA and its partners for bridging the telecommunications gap in places where mobile phones companies could not reach like in both Gbarpolu and Grand Kru Counties, thereby promising his Ministry’s fullest support in ensuring the maintenance and safety of the project.