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The Chinese Government has officially handed over the 300 Communities Satellite TV Project to the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Communications.

The project, which forms part of the Chinese government’s Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages Project, was successfully executed through its agency, Star Times Ghana, a Chinese multinational media company.

In all, the project has provided free satellite TV to over 300 Ghanaian communities across the country. 46 communities in the Eastern Region received free satellite TV devices; Ashanti Region had 57, Northern Region 31, Central Region 37, Greater Accra 35, and Volta Region 18. 22, 28, 18 and 8 communities from the Western, Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West regions received free satellite TV devices respectively.

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony, Vice President of StarTimes Group, Mr Xue, said, “This project indeed offers an opportunity for China and Ghana to deepen our relationship. It also accords us an invaluable opportunity in ensuring that the African continent and media development transitions to the next level”

He added that, “in modern times when information technology provides a wide range of opportunities for one to gather, process, store, retrieve and transmit knowledge and information, I believe this project has come at a good time to help less privileged communities meet the digital standard.”

He explained that apart from free satellite TV provided to over 300 Ghanaian communities across the country, public areas in the communities were given a bouquet of 20 channels for free and 20 households a 6-month offer to enjoy over 30 channels for free.

“Each community has so far received 20 decoders with dishes and accessories installed in selected individual homes, 2 projectors TVs and a StarTimes TV with backup solar light installed at public areas consisting of schools, hospitals and communities centers” he noted.

For his part, Deputy Minister of Communications, Honourable George Andah said, “For Government, television remains an important platform for communicating and disseminating vital information to the general public, predominantly through the news and public sensitization campaigns”.

He commended the Chinese Government for the initiative, saying that, in the digital broadcasting environment, the proliferation of satellite TV across the country would offer an opportunity for local and international content providers to develop exciting, relevant and quality programming that would appeal to a range of audiences.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Shi Ting Wang, said the project so far has provided more than 660 jobs to Ghanaians across the country.

He stressed that, the project will go a long way in ensuring that the African continent and media development progresses to the next level.

He further charged the Government of Ghana to properly manage the project to ensure that it serves its right course.