Minister Designate for Communication and Digitization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has said that digitization has been added to the communications ministry’s portfolio to enable the ministry transfer all analogue data to the digital platform with ease. The minister designate said this when she took her turn at the ongoing public hearing of the Appointments Committee on Monday February 15, 2021.
The vetting, which lasted for about about five hours, saw questions on the closing down of 51 commercial FM Stations and five community radio stations taking the centre stage.
In her defense, the minister designate said her only role in the matter was to instruct the National Communication Authority (NCA) to ensure that all radio stations which had defaulted in renewing their license be sanctioned, adding that, the exercise was across board with no specific radio stations targeted. She explained that out of the 56 FM Stations that were closed down, 43 have re-applied for licenses, 30 of which have been processed, with the remaining 13 yet to be worked on.
The minister designate said she intends to lead her ministry to embark on new sim registration exercise to help the ministry and government to improve on telephony services and cyber security to all users.
On better services of mobile communications, the nominee mentioned that soon all users will have the opportunity to enjoy national roaming facilities.
The nominee also answered questions relating to her involvement in the Kelni GVG contract, the launch of the APP to trace COVID-19 cases, some comments she has made on radio and her alleged offensive response to official letters, free wifi to Senior Secondary Schools, the delay approval of the Broadcasting Bill, among others.