FORPOH PARLUKEN DISTRICT, (LINA) – A Team from the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) and the Universal Access Fund have completed a feasibility study to construct a mini communication tower in Parluken Forpoh Statutory District for use by Orange Liberia and LoneStar cellphone companies.
The tower, according to Universal Access Fund Project Coordinator, James Lynch Mombo, is an initiative of the government intended to bridge the telecommunications gap in rural areas throughout the country.
He said the LTA in partnership with Universal Access Fund is introducing the new technology in Liberia with Grand Kru and Gbarpolu counties to be the first to benefit.
Ghana is one of the West African countries that are benefiting from the Universal Access Fund establishment.
Mr. Mombo disclosed that Forpoh Parluken and its environs have been identified by the team to benefit from the new network technology.
He said the towers will be constructed in communities where the two GSM companies currently operating in the country have refused to extend their services as they consider the areas not good for business purposes.
The Universal Access Fund Representative told the inhabitants of Parluken Forpoh District that the mini-tower, upon completion, will bring relief to the locals as it will enable them to easily communicate with their family members in faraway countries and other parts of Liberia.
He said the Liberia Telecommunications Authority remains committed to providing easy access to communication.
The communication authority says they have completed the regulatory governance framework.
Mombo made the disclosure to citizens in Parluken on July 9, and encouraged community dwellers to take ownership of the project as it will also provide employment opportunities for citizens of Parluken.
Meanwhile, residents of the area and local stakeholders have welcomed the assessment team and expressed excitement over the new development.
The citizens of Forpoh Parluken celebrated the government of Liberia for listening to their cries, stressing that they have been living with this situation for decades.
The citizens explained that to communicate in the area, they sometimes walk about five hours in the forest on top of hills or climb trees, a situation that deprives majority of them from communicating with their relatives and friends.
The community has provided land space for the construction work and pledged their support to the project.