We Climb Trees Before Making Calls” – Ataso Residents Cry Over Poor Mobile Connectivity
Residents of Ataso, a farming community in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, have expressed deep frustration over persistent poor mobile network connectivity that has disrupted communication, business transactions, and access to essential services.
For years, the people of Ataso have endured the ordeal of climbing trees, rooftops, and even unfinished buildings just to make or receive phone calls — a situation they describe as unbearable in this modern era of digital communication.
Speaking in an interview with the media, several residents lamented how the lack of reliable mobile network coverage has affected every aspect of their daily lives. “The network is our major problem, and it’s affecting us a lot,” one resident said in distress. “Sometimes, you have to climb a tree or walk to the outskirts of the village before you can even send a message or make a call. It’s frustrating.”
Another resident recounted how the challenge is hindering small-scale business operations in the area, especially for those who depend on mobile transactions. “It’s difficult transacting business in this village. We can’t make mobile money transfers, call our customers, or even communicate in times of emergency. We are pleading with the government and the telecommunication companies to come to our aid,” he appealed.
The residents noted that despite several complaints made to authorities in the past, the situation has remained unchanged, leaving them feeling disconnected from the rest of the country. Some students in the community also revealed that the poor network has negatively impacted their studies, especially when they need to access online materials or communicate with teachers.
The community is therefore calling on the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, as well as telecommunication service providers such as MTN, Vodafone, and Telecel, to extend their network infrastructure to Ataso and its surrounding communities to ease the communication burden.
They emphasized that improved connectivity would not only enhance personal communication but also boost education, health services, security alerts, and local businesses — all of which rely heavily on stable mobile networks.
Residents believe that with the government’s ongoing rural connectivity initiatives and digital inclusion programs, their community deserves immediate attention to bridge the communication gap.
Until then, many say they will continue climbing trees and scaling buildings just to stay connected — a symbol of their determination to be heard in a world that increasingly depends on digital communication.
