RAPID ICT AND ENABLING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Policy Context It is acknowledged that the level, scale and speed of the socio-economic development envisaged in the Ghana ICT4AD Vision cannot take place without the necessary modern physical infrastructure: roads and general utilities; social infrastructure; and the necessary modern telecommunications and communication infrastructure. In fact evidence points to the fact that telecommunications and communications infrastructure deployment and usage is a necessary precondition for sustained economic growth in Ghana. There is no doubt that development of a nation’s communication infrastructure will be essential for speeding up the process of the deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the society and economy. On the whole, Ghana’s physical, telecommunications and communications infrastructure is currently under-underdeveloped and limited in coverage. It is acknowledged that special policy measures and initiatives will need to be aimed at developing the communications infrastructure to improve universal access and service ---- And that this policy measures will need to be directed at creating the necessary legal, regulatory and institutional enabling environment to facilitate the development of the telecommunications and communications infrastructure to improve the coverage of the network and its services. The Policy Statement The Government is committed to facilitating the rapid development, upgrade, improvement and deployment of the necessary infrastructure in all key areas. And as part of this policy commitment, specific policy measures shall be put in place to facilitate the creation of the necessary legal, regulatory and institutional enabling environment to support the development of the nation’s physical and communications infrastructure. The Government is also committed to improving communication facilities and to diversifying the means of access through the utilization of appropriate telecommunications systems. And as part of this strategy shall be facilitating increasing access to telecommunication facilities; and the rehabilitation and strengthening of telecommunication and communication facilities as well as the necessary physical infrastructure This policy commitment shall in addition contribute to addressing some of the other identified developmental challenges facing Ghana, including: the challenges of the under-developed and underperforming private sector; the challenges of the limited human resource capacity characterized by low professional, technical and managerial manpower base; as well as the challenges of the weak scientific research base and under-developed R&D capacity of the country. 62