…600 youth jobs to be created in beneficiary communities
The Ministry of Communications in collaboration with StarTimes Group has launched the nationwide ‘300 village satellite TV project’ in a bid to create some 600 jobs for the youth. The event took place on Wednesday September 26 in Accra.
According to sector Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the 600-youth selected from all beneficiary communities will receive training to enable them provide maintenance and post installation services, which will offer them employment opportunities.
Expectations
It is expected that 6,000 households drawn from 300 communities nationwide are to benefit from the China-aided satellite television (TV) project.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful speaking at a ceremony held at the Akweibu Basic School in Dansoman said the project will provide two sets of solar television projected systems, 32-inch television sets, one digital television integrated decoder and 20 digital decoders for 300 communities across the nation.
All beneficiary communities will also be provided with solar lightning systems while equipments in public areas will be under a five-year warranty, she added.
‘’Apart from the 20 individual decoders for which we will have to pay for subscriptions after six months, all public viewing institutions and stations – 900 of them will enjoy this digital satellite television reception free of charge,’’ she explained.
The Akweibu Basic School is the first beneficiary of the China-aided satellite TV project in the Greater Accra Region.
The Minister revealed the move will be financed by grants from the Chinese government under the China-aided satellite project with Ghana.
Importance
The project according to her is a critical component of the Akufo-Addo led governments agenda aimed at helping citizens to access TV information on national and international events and programmes that would educate and inform them, hence increasing their awareness and knowledge to improve their welfare.
Chinese Ambassador
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Wang Shiting said the project is expected to provide free television broadcasting and equipments to some 10,000 communities across Africa to lifting the Africa-China relationship to a comprehensive, strategic and corporative partnership.
Beneficiary communities
Chief Operating Officer of StarTimes Ghana, Felix Ahonso in his remarks revealed the selected beneficiary communities are the Ashanti Region (57) Eastern Region (43), Greater Accra (37), Central Region (35), Brong Ahafo (31), Northern Region (30), Western Region (24), Volta Region (18) Upper East (17) Upper West (8).
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah