Residents of Asemkrom in the Aowin District of the Western North region have to climb a particular tree on a daily basis to make calls due to poor access to cellular network.
Western regional correspondent Paa Kojo Peters during a visit to the community, was amazed at how the residents have to form a queue under the tree to wait in turns to make a mobile phone call.
A visit to Asemkrom means a total cut off from telecommunication. Poor cellular network is a major challenge. A community with a population of about 5,000, it has only two spots where the network is accessible.
At the banks of the Boin river and on top of a particular tree. As early as 6am, residents, both young and old, troop to the tree where the young ones climb up to make calls.
The elderly have to depend on the benevolence of the youth as they cannot climb the trees themselves. These younger ones then act as middle persons who listen to one and convey to the other.
This means privacy is a luxury over here. Some students also come here to study with their phones and laptops.
The wooden bench, specially placed here provides some comfort as one waits for his or her turn to access the tree.
We chanced on some residents who were on top of the tree struggling to get access to network connectivity. According to them, lack of poor access to cellular network is making life unbearable for community members. They added there is nothing like privacy or secret calls and some of them are considering relocating to other areas.
“We have been on top of this tree since 6am trying to get access to network, yet to no avail, infact life is really unbearable for us especially when trying to reach our loved ones or relatives who are outside the community,” they lamented.
57-year-old Ephraim Ankomah is trying to reach his daughter in Takoradi. He is depending on the young men on the tree to do that for him.
“I’ve been sitting under this tree just to get somebody to help me reach my daughter in Takoradi. We have endured this situation all this while and we want an immediate solution. My Problem is, what happens should this tree be cut down” he asked.
The impact is also felt on their economy as this Momo vendor shares his frustration. “I can only do a few transactions a day even though the story could have been different if not for the network challenge,” he cried.
Obed Sakpa who is a chief resource guard operating at Asemkrom narrates his difficulties in trying to reach his colleague to even relay information.
By Paa Kojo Peters|ConnectFM|Onuaonline.com
