Information Ministry to Introduce text message
facility
By Awudu Salami Sule, Ghanadot
Accra, Sept 13, Ghanadot - The
Deputy Information Minister, Mr Samual Okudzeto Ablakwa has
revealed that, the Information Ministry would soon launch
SMS facility to enable Ghanaians across the country to send
text messages on concerns or information they want immediate
action on to the government.
According to him, the move is in line with President Mills'
principles of accountability and transparency.
Barely two weeks ago, the Information Ministry introduced a
programme where the sector minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, and
her two deputies, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and James Agyenim
Boateng, availed themselves to the general public through
the social networking website Facebook as another medium to
interact and address the concerns of the general public.
“We think that as the managers of government information, we
should be able to interact with people on one-on-one basis
so that we will be able to address their issues and take
their concerns,” Mr Ablorkwa told the press in an interview.
Mr Ablakwa said in order to make the text facility easier
for the general public, the ministry has been in talks with
SMS short codes providers for one short code which would be
applicable on all the networks.
Messaging through short codes is more expensive in Ghana
than the normal texting but Mr Ablorkwa promised an
affordable one for the SMS facility.
"We have asked that the rate should not be the commercial
rate that they normally charge people who text to such short
codes. With this SMS facility, people will be requesting
information that would be pointing to government challenges
or criticisms; or that are pointing to matters that need to
be addressed urgently, so you don’t have to charge people
for this,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa stated that the ministry had already discussed
that issue with mobile telecommunication companies in the
country and they promised to sort themselves out and they
would shortly get back to government.
“It is our hope that looking at the success of mobile phone
penetration all over the place, we will be able to have this
centre here at the Ministry of Information that would run 24
hours where when the text messages arrived they would be
viewed on the computer" he said.,
He further explained that, if the message received requires
urgent action, the ministry, department or agency; or state
institution that must take the action would quickly be
called to take action.
Ghanadot
