KOFORIDUA, Eastern Region — September 8, 2026
The ongoing construction of a telecommunications cell site at the Koforidua–Kumasi Lorry Station has received renewed attention following an engagement between government officials, traders, transport operators and other stakeholders at the station.
The engagement, held on Friday, September 4, formed part of a broader inspection of telecommunications infrastructure in the Eastern Region by the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister and officials of relevant institutions to interact directly with stakeholders at the terminal and address concerns surrounding the project, including its location, safety, regulatory requirements and expected contribution to telecommunications connectivity.
Background to the Project
The project became the subject of public discussion in late August following concerns raised by some traders and transport operators over the use of a portion of the lorry station for the telecommunications facility.
Some affected stakeholders expressed concerns about the availability of space at the busy transport terminal, the potential impact of construction on their activities, and the suitability of the location for the facility.
Questions were also raised about the project's approvals and possible health and safety implications.
The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, through the Municipal Chief Executive, Ransford Owusu Boakye, subsequently explained that the project had undergone the necessary approval processes.
According to the Assembly, the project is intended to strengthen telecommunications coverage, improve internet connectivity and enhance access to digital services within Koforidua and the wider municipality.
The project is being undertaken by African Towers, a private neutral-host telecommunications infrastructure company.
The Municipal Chief Executive explained that the location was selected following technical assessments by engineers who considered a number of potential sites within the central part of the municipality. The selected location was determined to provide the technical conditions required to improve network coverage.
The Assembly has encouraged all affected stakeholders to remain calm and use dialogue and the appropriate institutional channels to address their concerns.
Communications Minister Engages Stakeholders
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, visited the project site on September 4 as part of his tour of telecommunications infrastructure in the Eastern Region.
The Minister was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, the Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Dr. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko Computer, engineers and other officials.
As part of the visit, the delegation engaged station masters, drivers, traders and other stakeholders at the lorry terminal.
The engagement focused on the concerns raised by stakeholders and the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to the municipality's growing population and economic activity.
Government officials explained that the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure is necessary to address network coverage gaps and increasing demand for mobile voice and data services.
NCA Undertakes Public Education
Following the concerns generated by the project, the National Communications Authority also undertook public education activities in Koforidua.
The Authority engaged traders, transport operators and commuters at the Koforidua Central Market, including stakeholders at the Dwakeseɛ Mu and Dwaketewa Mu sections.
The NCA also used market information centres and radio discussions to provide information on telecommunications masts and towers and respond to questions from members of the public.
The education campaign was subsequently extended to Adawso, where NCA officials interacted with traders, residents and visitors during the community's market day.
The Authority explained that telecommunications infrastructure is subject to regulatory, technical, structural, environmental and safety requirements and that radio-frequency exposure from such infrastructure is regulated within internationally accepted limits.
The NCA further highlighted the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to modern life, including voice and data communications, emergency services, digital financial transactions, education, commerce and other essential activities.
Addressing Health and Safety Concerns
Health and safety concerns have featured prominently in discussions surrounding the Koforidua project.
The NCA has indicated that telecommunications facilities are regulated to ensure compliance with established radio-frequency exposure limits. Its consumer information also notes that measurements from tested telecommunications base stations have been observed to be below applicable International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) limits.
The NCA has further indicated that relevant safety assessments form part of the regulatory process for telecommunications infrastructure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that radio-frequency exposure from base stations is generally well below levels capable of producing established harmful effects when applicable exposure guidelines are respected. The organisation also continues to monitor and support research into radio-frequency exposure and health.
Authorities have therefore urged the public to rely on verified technical and regulatory information when assessing concerns relating to telecommunications infrastructure.
Strengthening Telecommunications Infrastructure
The Koforidua project forms part of a broader national effort to expand and improve Ghana's telecommunications infrastructure.
During his Eastern Region tour, Minister Samuel Nartey George indicated that government is pursuing the upgrading of Rural Telephony Project sites to at least 4G technology to meet growing demand for higher-speed connectivity.
The Minister disclosed that approximately 1,400 rural telephony sites are currently carrying traffic, while about 300 completed sites are awaiting connection. An additional 300 sites, he said, were under construction as government works towards a national target of 2,016 sites.
He also emphasised the need for additional cell sites across the country to address network congestion and coverage gaps, particularly in rapidly developing urban and peri-urban communities.
For New Juaben South Municipality, improved telecommunications infrastructure is expected to support businesses, residents, commuters and institutions as the municipality continues to expand economically and digitally.
Continued Dialogue with Stakeholders
The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly recognises the importance of both reliable telecommunications infrastructure and meaningful engagement with communities affected by development projects.
The recent engagement at the Koforidua–Kumasi Lorry Station provides an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the technical and regulatory considerations behind the project while allowing their concerns to be communicated directly to the relevant authorities.
The Assembly will continue to encourage constructive dialogue among government agencies, project developers, traders, transport operators, residents and other stakeholders.
The focus remains on ensuring that development initiatives within the municipality are implemented responsibly, in accordance with applicable requirements, while taking into consideration the legitimate interests and concerns of affected communities.
As work on the cell-site project continues, the Assembly encourages the public to seek accurate information from the appropriate authorities and to use established channels for raising concerns or seeking clarification on the project.
The Koforidua–Kumasi Lorry Station telecommunications facility is expected to contribute to improved network coverage and digital connectivity in the municipality, supporting communication, commerce, emergency services and other essential activities.