STORY: Ghanaian minister lauds Chinese firms' contribution to Ghana's digitalization
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 0:03:06
LOCATION: Accra
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of an exhibition featuring 5G
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization
3. various of an exhibition featuring 5G
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization
5. various of an exhibition featuring 5G
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization
7. various of an exhibition featuring 5G

STORYLINE:

Chinese companies' contribution to Ghana's digitalization agenda has been positive, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, the minister highlighted the Chinese technology companies, including Huawei, that have a significant role in propelling Ghana's digitalization process.
   
Owusu-Ekuful said Huawei is one of the largest original equipment manufacturers working for both the public and the private sector in Ghana and has been an integral part of the implementation of the West African country's digitalization agenda.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization
"You can't do (digitalization) without digital infrastructure, and they provide key components for all (telecommunication) network operators, both private and public (in the country), depending on the needs of the service provider."
   
According to Owusu-Ekuful, since the government was satisfied with Huawei's service delivery, it contracted the Chinese telecommunication technology company to help power Ghana's rural telephony network.
   
The minister insisted that Huawei did an impressive job, working with MTN and other service providers with the support of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications to develop the rural-style solution that's currently in use for Ghana's rural telephony project.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization  
"We are quite happy with that project, and it has become an example for many other African countries that hope to set up similar infrastructure. We are quite happy with the services that we are getting from them."
   
While hailing Huawei for participating in other digitalization projects, the minister said many other Chinese companies were operating in the Ghanaian technology space with satisfactory results.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL, Ghanaian Minister for Communication and Digitalization   
"We want a lot more technology transfer, and we want them to consider working with local firms more closely so that there is knowledge, know-how and technology transfer. We also want more Chinese companies to set up industries here, as now we are setting up high-speed networks here. They can set up industries anywhere in the countryside to produce these devices locally, to reduce the cost of devices for delivering both 4G and 5G services to the subscribers."
   
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Accra.
(XHTV)