Residents of Tokali, a hard to reach community in the Wa West district of the Upper West region have made a passionate appeal to telecommunication companies to as a matter of urgency extend their services to them.
The community which is along the black Volta river, like many other communities in that enclave have serious challenges with cellular network.
The most dreadful experience with the mobile telephone network in the area is that, the telecommunication networks in the area are usually overpowered by that from neighbouring Burkina Faso known as BF CELTEL.
A visit to the community by Home Radio’s Albert Dapare revealed that residents suffers exorbitant telecommunication charges after any attempt of placing a phone call.
However, in the heart of the community there exist scanty network about two hundred and metres from the chief’s palace on some two trees. This place has become much more like the communication centre of Tokali, where people throng all the time inorder to make calls.
Residents usually hang their phones on the trees awaiting cellular network to either make or receive calls.
In an interview with Mr. Sumaila Yahaya who is a driver, he said the poor cellular network situation has affected his business.
“Often when I’m here in Tokali potential clients call me but are often unable to reach me. Sometimes what is most worrying is that people want to send their patients to the hospital at night but are often unable to contact me. The situation here is very bad so we are in dire need of support.”
Another resident who is a teacher cum business man Mr. Fuseini Saanugyee stated that the situation is a disincentive to attracting personnel both from the health and educational sector to Tokali.
“I am a teacher and due to the poor network here I’ve not been able to attend several meetings at the district level same has happened to my colleagues here. Most often the information is sent via WhatsApp which makes it difficult if not impossible for us to access.”
“I also engage in mobile phone credit transfer but I can only do it if I come to hang my phone on the tree.”
The situation has affected residents in many facets and they are therefore calling on the ministry of communications and the various telecommunication companies to come to their aid.
