In an era of rapid digital transformation, residents of the Kucha Electoral Area in the Saboba District of the Northern Region remain isolated from essential telecommunication and internet access.
With no mobile network coverage, residents resort to extreme measures to make phone calls, such as climbing trees or tying their phones to branches in hopes of catching a signal.
This lack of connectivity impacts all aspects of life, from emergency communication to digital learning and mobile banking.
When calls can be made, they are often broadcast on speaker mode, sacrificing privacy due to poor reception.
The absence of reliable network coverage poses significant challenges for residents needing to contact emergency services.
For instance, arranging transport to cross the overflowing River Oti for medical emergencies is often impossible due to communication barriers.
Daniel Njorgnam, a resident, shared his frustration with Graphic Online’s Simon Unyan, recounting how he has climbed a large mango tree multiple times in front of his house to obtain a faint signal to call for help when his nephew fell critically ill.
The connectivity gap also affects education and economic activities. Students are hindered from accessing digital learning opportunities, while mobile banking and online services remain out of reach.
“This is how we live every day,” Njorgnam explained. “I’m a student at Bolgatanga Technical Institute, and I had to borrow money from a friend to travel home because I couldn’t reach my family on the phone. The stress and cost involved are unimaginable.”
Another resident, Njorfuni Isaac, recounted a painful incident where he fractured his elbow after falling from a tree while trying to find network reception. These stories illustrate the physical risks residents are willing to take to communicate.
The Assemblyman for the Kucha Electoral Area, Adam Gmalaye Njibadam, appealed to the government and telecom companies to consider providing temporary network coverage.
“We urgently need a network tower to communicate effectively, especially in emergencies; the entire electoral area, which comprises eight communities, has no network coverage,” he noted.
As Ghana embraces digital advancements, Kucha stands as a stark example of the digital divide, where the basic right to communication and connectivity remains an unmet need.