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‘Fibre cut threat to telecommunications’
Fibre cuts affect service providers
Frequent fibre cuts and theft of cables in the Western Region are a worrying phenomenon and also a national security issue, MTN Regional Technical Manager in-charge of Western and Central regions, Teddy Hayford Acquah, has lamented.
He added “We experience power cable, feeder cable, fibre cable and joint box and active telecom equipment theft. These are caused by high demand at the scrap market. Indeed, these activities frustrate our operations to extend services to corners of the Western Region especially those in the fringes.”
Mr Acquah disclosed these in an interview with The Spectator on operational challenges MTN Ghana faced in providing smooth services to customers in the Western Region on the sidelines of a media interaction in Takoradi, last Thursday.
Other key challenges including galamsey, sand winning, estate development and road construction are also undermining MTN Ghana’s efforts to roll out fibre transmission lines and improve networks throughout the entire western corridor.
“Fibre cuts affect businesses. In 2021, the Western Region recorded in excess of 275 fibre cuts, increasing to 230 in August this year, we’ve just covered half year and you can imagine the impacts of these human activities on our network connectivity and quality of services we roll out to our customers,” Mr Acquah stressed.
To reduce the cuts and interruption of services, the engineer said, MTN Ghana was intensifying the education and the community engagements through media platforms, explaining that, the cost in repairs and relocation, could be channelled into social interventions, and even built and expanded the network.
“We are laising with security and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute those who will be found culpable of the law,” he told The Spectator.
He added “The cost of replacement or relocation per kilometre, is in excess of GH¢100,000. We are soliciting everybody’s support to come on board for us to trigger that conversation on how we can all curtail this challenge. Of course, we need the roads, fuel stations, private property but we need to work together and ensure that there is balance between these and our fibre infrastructure.”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi
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NHIA set to boost its cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with a leading private cybersecurity solutions provider in Ghana, CyberHawk Limited, is advancing the Authority’s digital infrastructure to ensure seamless operations.
This is to safeguard the Authority’s digital technologies and maintain the trust of active members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In this context, the NHIA Management Information System (MIS) Directorate in the Head Office, on February 11, 2024, launched a three-day brainstorming session on the organization’s cybersecurity enhancement agenda.
The MIS Directorate Ag. Director, Mr. Daniel Blankson explained that the collaborative meeting aimed to scrutinize the NHIA’s Information Technology architecture, identifying potential risks and gapsto enhance its cybersecurity posture.
“By leveraging CyberHawk Limited’s expertise, the NHIA seeks to fortify its defenses against cyber threats, protecting sensitive information and maintaining the trust of its members.”
Mr. Blankson applauded the synergy between the two organizations and underscored the Authority’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to drive its mission forward.
The Head of Information Security and Standards Unit, in the MIS Directorate, Mr. Ebenezer Hooper, highlighted the Authority’s significant milestone on the digital transformation journey.
According to him, the NHIA is actively engaged in fully adopting and implementing modern digital systems to improve its operations.
He said, “The three-day brainstorming meeting will culminate in the development of a robust IT infrastructure, as well as strategic plans to translate security implementations into tangible IT cost savings for the organization.”
“There is the need to form a steering committee or IT advisory committee, operated under the Board, so that they can pay more attention in protecting the huge IT investment while ensuring cyber security-related policies are well protected,” he added.
The Project Manager of CyberHawk Limited, Mr. Chetan Narayana Murthy, lauded the collaboration and anticipated that it would empower the NHIA to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
According to him, “This is a huge project that will greatly benefit the NHIA by implementing robust cybersecurity measures, safeguarding their systems, and ultimately protecting the sensitive information of NHIA members and healthcare providers.”
A Senior Manager of IT infrastructure, Mr. David Asare Addo, and his colleague, a Senior Manager of Applications, Mr. Enock Afanyi, with the MIS Directorate, gave an overview of the NHIA’s current technological landscape.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Claims, Membership and Regional Operations (MRO), Research, Policy, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RPME), Corporate Affairs, the Audit, Administration, and Human Resource Directorates.
Story By : Vivian Arthur
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
