Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Dzata George has said that 5G deployment in Ghana must focus on availability, accessibility, and affordability to ensure its benefits reach all Ghanaians, especially those in the rural areas, where farming is the main economic activity.
He made the remark in an exclusive interview with Puretvonline.com following the recent 5G launch at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
According to him, if 5G infrastructure is concentrated mainly in urban centres, it risks limiting its transformative potential to activities like movie streaming rather than empowering critical sectors like agriculture, which drives Ghana’s economy and predominantly operates in rural areas.
Highlighting the potential of 5G to revolutionise agriculture, Sam George stressed that 5G-enabled technologies, such as e-services for precision farming and remote irrigation, could significantly improve output and attract the youth into farming.
He argued that deploying affordable 5G connectivity and devices in rural areas would not only boost agricultural productivity but also support Ghana’s GDP and encourage urban youth to explore farming as a viable career option.
Sam George also urged the government to prioritise 5G in sectors like education, tourism, creative arts, and the digital economy to maximise its socio-economic impact.
He stated that once 5G is here, it is time for Ghana to do a digital switchover, which will free up spectrum and TV white spaces, enabling the deployment of faster internet speeds through the use of TV set-top boxes.
With Ghana lagging over 8 years behind the global digital transition deadline, Sam George urged the next administration to commit to the analogue-to-digital transition by 2025.
This shift, he said, is essential to expand 5G deployment, ensuring it is not merely a matter of “pomp and pageantry” but rather a tool that delivers widespread benefits.