Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Ministry to promote ICT in schools

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has developed an educational policy framework document, which would serve as a guideline for the implementation of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) programmes in schools.

A curriculum for ICT training would therefore be put in place to make computer studies an integral part of basic and secondary education as well as teacher training.

This was stated in an address read on behalf of Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports on Friday in Accra at the 5th annual Global Teenager Project Ghana (GTP) certification and awards ceremony organized by Rescue Mission Ghana, a non-governmental organization on the theme: The role of Global Teenager Project in the Ghana educational reform.

Twice a year, a cluster of eight to twelve classes from different schools link up via E-mail to form Virtual Learning circles with the aim of connecting local and international learners and teachers, developing educational content, promoting cross cultural understanding and raising ICT literacy awareness in schools.

"This would provide pupils and students at these levels some fundamental training in ICT before entry into tertiary institutions where further training in ICT can be pursued.

"In terms of infrastructural deployment, every effort is being made to provide telephone facilities to all senior secondary schools and training colleges to enable them to have access to the internet" Professor Fobih said.

He noted that training in ICT requires the formation of a critical mass of teachers who would be in a position to handle critical information in a knowledge-based world.

He said economic growth in most developing countries have been induced by the flow of information adding" this realization has led the transformation of most economies into knowledge based ones.

"Government is therefore planning to extend the national broadband backbone connectivity throughout the country as part of efforts to facilitate the development of infrastructure facilities that would enhance the access and study of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in schools.

Professor Fobih said as part of its "computers in school" policy, ICT based tools, systems, educational technologies, software and courseware would be deployed within the educational system to improve the quality of education, science and sports at all levels.

Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications announced that government has completed the first phase of the National Fibre Backbone Network which spanned from Accra through the southern part of the country to Tamale and ends at Ho.

He said the completion of the project would ensure the provision of an affordable cost of bandwidth and an increase in the quality of service.

Mr. Ebenezer Malcolm, Project Manager of the Global Teenager Project Ghana noted that one of the major challenges facing the expansion of the project was the provision of regular and reliable Internet access.

He said the project started with four schools in Greater Accra region in 1999 but has now reached over 30 schools in Greater Accra, Central, Western, Ashanti and Volta regions.

Mr. Malcolm appealed to individuals, private organizations and the Ministry of Education Science and Sports to Support the expansion of the project.

He said the project has given basic training to 750 teachers and 840 students," adding 17 students and two teachers won an international award in a web development contest lat year."

The overall best basic learning circle award went to Mr. Frank Fiamor of Morning Star School in Accra, the best Advanced circle learning award went to Mr. Saddick Boateng of T.I Ahmadiyya school in Kumasi whiles the best supporting learning circle school went to Aggrey Memorial Zion secondary school in Cape Coast.

Fifteen other individuals were awarded for their dedication to the development of the project.

Source: GNA

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Celtel completes privatisation process for WESTEL

Accra, Dec. 24, GNA - Government has officially welcomed Celtel International BV, as a new market entrant into the telecom sector after it paid USD115 million to the government, signifying the termination of the privatisation process of Western Telesystems Limited (WESTEL). The receipt of Celtel's payment, represents transaction payment of its shareholding in WESTEL and concludes the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA), a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation said on Monday.

The statement, signed by Ms. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, the Minister, said this left a balance of five million US dollars subject to the completion of due diligence by the time of assumption of the company by Celtel. It said the transfer of Western Wireless International (WWI)'s 66.67 per cent shares to the Government of Ghana in 2005 and the need to secure strategic investment to re-position WESTEL as a significant telecommunications service provider in the country necessitated its privatisation.

The statement recalled an earlier statement issued on October 24, 2007, informing the public about the conclusion of negotiations for the divestiture of WESTEL stating that, a price offer of USD 120 million had been agreed for 75 per cent shareholding, following extensive negotiations.

It said this reduced to 70 per cent within three years, when Celtel would release five per cent of its shares in addition to those to be released by the government and floated on the Ghana Stock Exchange to benefit the Ghanaian public.

Under the agreement, a USD 25 million due to the National Communications Authority and payable over an 11-year period of the licence's lifespan was reduced to USD15 million, and paid outright as part of the offer price of USD 120 million. The outright payment is actually a deal struck to save government some money.

It was also made clear that Kinz Telecom, as the highest bidder for WESTEL, was not able to fulfil its undertaking to make payment within an agreed stipulated period, hence, the government invited Celtel as the next successful bidder into the negotiations.

The statement said the privatisation exercise for Ghana Telecom was still in progress and that offers received so far had not met the expectation of government.
Source:
GNA

Monday, December 10, 2007

Millicom Ghana Secures Debt Financing for Network Expansion

The second-largest mobile telephone operator in Ghana, Millicom Ghana, is to receive a finance package of US$140 million. DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft provides together with other development finance institutions, including French Proparco, a tranche of US$80 million. While DEG acts as coordinator of this tranche, it finances US$27.5 million of this amount itself. The remaining US$60 million will be provided by a pool of local banks.

Millicom Ghana will invest these funds in developing and strengthening its mobile phone network in Ghana.

Millicom Ghana was able to almost double subscribers to 1.2 million last year. Besides expanding the present network, the pending investments are earmarked for installing a fibre optic ring to enable the use of more internet based applications.

By financing this project in Ghana, DEG will contribute to upgrading the telecommunications sector, which currently accounts for six per cent of national aggregate value added. As a profitable company Millicom Ghana will continue to pay important taxes and customs duties contributing to the national budget. The sale of mobile phone cards will also generate additional employment opportunities in the whole country.

As one of the largest European development finance institutions, DEG has already implemented a whole range of telecommunications projects in Africa. Most recently at the end of June, it financed investments by the mobile telephony operator Celtel International in Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to figures from the Mobile World, Millicom had just over 1.5 million customers at the end of September. The market leader is ScanCom, who ended the month with just under 3.9 million customers. The country population penetration level is around 27%.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Accra Institute of Technology Obtains UK Engineering Council Accreditation

The United Kingdom Engineering Council has given the Accra Institute of Technology a full accreditation to offer its engineering qualifications through the body that runs the UK Engineering Council Examinations worldwide.

The United Kingdom Engineering Council has given the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) a full accreditation to offer its engineering qualifications through City and Guilds of London, the body that runs the UK Engineering Council Examinations worldwide.

The accreditation, the first to be given to a Ghanaian University, puts AIT at par with leading technological universities offering undergraduate and post-graduate engineering programmes, a statement issued by AIT said.

AIT, which is also called University of the Future, said Ghanaians could now run courses, register candidates and conduct the examinations on all the UK Engineering Council programmes.

These include Engineering Council (EC) Engineering Certificate programmes (equivalent to 1st year of a British Bachelor in Engineering degree programme), Graduate Diploma (equivalent to British Bachelor in Engineering) and Post-Graduate Diploma (equivalent to a British Masters in Engineering).

"Ghanaians can now obtain at AIT an internationally recognised professional engineering qualification acceptable in any part of the world," the statement said.

The statement quoted Dr Philip Riseborough, Head of Higher Qualifications in charge of EC programmes, as saying the accreditation would enhance AIT's competitive advantage through providing its students with the opportunity locally to access the internationally recognised Chattered Engineer level qualifications.

It also quoted Prof. Clement Dzidonu, President of AIT, as saying the recognition fitted in with their programmes, which were practical oriented with emphasis on producing a professional engineer that could work and compete with their peers anywhere in the world.

The UK Engineering Council is the UK registration authority for professional engineers working in partnership with 35 professional engineering institutions.

Source : Accra Mail

Dr Nii Quaynor Donates John Postel Award Prize Money to African Fund for Capacity Building, Research And Internet Development

AfriNIC, the Regional Internet Registry for Africa, is very pleased to announce that Dr. Nii Quaynor, convenor of AfNOG and one of the authors of the original
project plan to set up an African Internet Number Registry has been awarded the Jonathan B. Postel Award at the IETF-70 meeting on 5th December 2007 which was
held in Vancouver Canada.

Dr. Nii Quaynor becomes the first African to receive this prestigious award from the Internet community. Each year, the Internet Society awards the Jonathan B.
Postel Service Award. The award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions in service to the data communications community.

Dr. Quaynor has selflessly pioneered Internet development and expansion throughout Africa for nearly two decades, enabling profound advances in information access, education, healthcare
and commerce for African countries and their citizens, said Internet Society president Lynn St. Amour. Today, Dr. Quaynor continues to champion not just technological advances but also African
involvement in Internet standards, processes and deployments, discussion on Internet policies and regulations, and ensuring African interests are well-represented globally.
 He has shaped a community of Africans who share his vision and reflect the dedication shown by Jon Postel.

According to Adiel A. Akplogan, the CEO of AfriNIC, This is an important milestone for the African technical community presence in the International
forum. We expect this Award to have a huge impact on the community and will certainly emulate more contribution and commitment for Internet Protocol
technology and it use for Development in the AfriNIC service region.

Dr. Nii Quaynor has pledged to dedicate his prize to contribute to the new fund being setup by AfriNIC to support Internet development in Africa (African Fund
for Capacity Building, Research and Internet Development).

He said: We need to develop our young engineers to emulate the dedication to network engineering as exemplified by Jon Postel. We have to harness the
pioneering work done by the dedicated technical leadership who have trained hundreds of young engineers through AfNOG and AfriNIC. The fund will make a
difference in support for education and research of young engineers in Africa.

We would like all the African community to join us to congratulate Dr Nii Quaynor for his great contribution to the Internet community in Africa.
AfriNIC is a non-governmental and not-for-profit membership based organisation. Its main role is to serve Africa region as Regional Internet Registry, like the
four other continents which have their own RIR.

AfriNIC's mission is To provide professional and efficient distribution of Internet number resources to the African Internet community, to  support Internet technology usage and development across the continent and strengthen self Internet governance in Africa by encouraging a participative policy  development.

To contact AfriNIC: t: +230 4666616, f: +230 4666758, e: press@afrinic.net

More about the Postel Service Award: http://www.isoc.org/awards/

http://www.afrinic.net/news/press/POSTELAWARD_2007_PRESS_RELEASE.pdf

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Nii Quaynor Receives the Internet Society’s Jonathan B. Postel Service Award for Pioneering Work to Advance the Internet in Africa

Press Releases

Reston, VA and Geneva, Switzerland - 5 December 2007 – The Internet Society has awarded pioneering Internet engineer Nii Quaynor the prestigious Jonathan B. Postel Service Award for 2007 for his leadership in advancing Internet technology in Africa and galvanizing technologists to improve Internet access and capabilities throughout the continent.

The Internet Society presented the award, including a $20,000 [USD] honorarium, during the 70th meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

"Dr. Quaynor has selflessly pioneered Internet development and expansion throughout Africa for nearly two decades, enabling profound advances in information access, education, healthcare and commerce for African countries and their citizens," said Internet Society president Lynn St. Amour. "Today, Dr. Quaynor continues to champion not just technological advances but also African involvement in Internet standards, processes and deployments, discussion on Internet policies and regulations, and ensuring African interests are well-represented globally. He has shaped a community of Africans who share his vision and reflect the dedication shown by Jon Postel."

"I am humbled by the award and what Jon Postel represents to our community in Africa. Jon Postel's efforts and the global view he maintained on the operation of the domain name system and the numbering services assured that Africa would share in the Internet growth and early. I thank the Internet Society for the recognition and am very pleased to be associated with Jon's memorial," said Dr. Nii Quaynor. "We will work to develop more African engineers to meet the fast network growth needs of the region, being a late starter, and to join the technical policy processes. Our overall objective is to strengthen education and research in network technologies in Africa."

The annual Internet Society award is named after Dr. Jonathan B. Postel to commemorate his extraordinary stewardship exercised throughout his thirty-year career in networking. Between 1971 and 1998, Postel managed, nurtured and transformed the RFC series of notes, which encompasses the technical specifications and recommendations for the Internet and was created by Steve Crocker in 1969 as a part of his work on the Arpanet, the forerunner of today's Internet. Postel was a founding member of the Internet Architecture Board and the first individual member of the Internet Society, where he also served as a trustee until his untimely death.

Dr. Quaynor is chairman of Network Computer Systems (NCS) Ghana.COM and a professor of computer science at University of Cape-Coast, Ghana. He is also the convener of the African Network Operators Group (AfNOG), a network technology transfer institution since 2000 and the founding chairman of AfriNIC, the African numbers registry.

Dr. Quaynor began his pioneering Internet work in Africa in 1993 when he returned to his home country of Ghana to establish the first Internet Service operated by NCS in West Africa. At NCS, he and his team worked on the early development of the Internet in Africa. Today, there are more than 43 million Internet users in Africa.

Prior to NCS, Dr. Quaynor worked with Digital Equipment Corporation in the United States from 1977 till 1992. In 1979, he established the Computer Science department at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Dr. Quaynor graduated from Dartmouth College in 1972 with B.A (Engineering Science) and received a Ph.D. (Computer Science) in distributed systems in 1977 from State University of New York at Stony Brook.

About the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award

The Jonathan B. Postel Service Award was established by the Internet Society to honor those who, like Postel, have made outstanding contributions in service to the data communications community. The award is focused on sustained and substantial technical contributions, service to the community, and leadership. With respect to leadership, the nominating committee places particular emphasis on candidates who have supported and enabled others in addition to their own specific actions. Previous recipients of the Postel Award include Jon himself (posthumously and accepted by his mother), Scott Bradner, Daniel Karrenberg, Stephen Wolff, Peter Kirstein, Phill Gross, Jun Murai, Bob Braden, and Joyce K. Reynolds. The award consists of an engraved crystal globe and $20,000 [USD].

This year's award is sponsored in part by Afilias Global Registry Services.

About the Internet Society

The Internet Society is an independent international nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. With offices in Washington, DC, and Geneva, Switzerland, and with more than 80 chapters worldwide, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world.

For further details

Mark Thalhimer
Director of Communications and Public Relations, Internet Society
E-mail: thalhimer@isoc.org
Telephone: +1 703 326 9880 x130
1775 Wiehle Avenue
Reston, VA 20190-5108
USA
Internet Society: www.isoc.org

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Defence Minister donates computers

 Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Defence, on Wednesday donated three computers and accessories to the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho to ensure effective communication with peacekeepers and their relatives.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said Zinox donated the items to him and he was in turn donating it to the Regiment to help them move in tune with the current Information Technology revolution. "Today it is not only when one cannot read or write that he/she is illiterate but lack of knowledge in computers also makes one an illiterate as well," he said. He lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for their contribution to the growth of the IT sector and said the establishment of the internet cafe by the Regiment was a clear indication of the success chalked in that area.

Major Gen. Samuel Odotei, Chief of Army Staff, who received the computers, thanked the Minister for responding to the request made by the Regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kotia, Commanding Officer of 66 Artillery Regiment, said the Internet cafe, worth over 150 million cedis, was made possible through personal contributions from troops. He said the Ministry had employed IT officers who were manning and training other officers.

Source:
GNA

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Ghana to Host UNCTAD On ICT4D

Ghana is to host the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) in April 2008, under the theme 'Science, Technology, Innovation (STI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)s for Development (ICT4D)'.

According to the secretary general of UNCTAD, the event comes at a time when UNCTAD is preparing to host the 12th UNCTAD quadrennial ministerial conference, also on the heels of another meeting; the science, technology, innovation and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development, to be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on December 6, 2007.

All experts, he said, are encouraged to prepare and submit brief papers related to one or several relevant issues, as well as those relating to their countries´ experiences in the area of science and technology, innovation and ICTs.

"The contribution of STI and ICTs to the achievement of broader development objectives," he urged.The scribe equally said that issues bordering on global and regional cooperation in the areas of STI and ICTs are welcome, adding that such papers will be made available to the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.

"States members of UNCTAD, specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations wishing to attend the pre-event are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the name of their representative at an early date," he said.

UNCTAD's mission is to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy and has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work is also to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on domestic policies and international action that are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

higway africa news agency

Minister Advocates Knowledge-Based Economy

The Minister of Defence, Albert Kan-Dapaah says developing countries have the obligation to build a knowledge-based economy that would lead to economic revolution and ensure that they compete effectively with the developed nations.

According to him, developing nations of today are poor largely because of their inability to take advantage of previous economic revolutions that took place in the agricultural, industrial and scientific sectors.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah said this at a reception organized by the Indian High Commission to mark Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) Day.

The ITEC programme, which was launched by the government of India in 1964, has provided training in India in various fields such as banking, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), audit and accounts, hydrology, management and journalism for almost 30,000 foreign nominees from developing countries.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah urged developing countries to take advantage of another emerging economic revolution, which had been sparked by ICT, in order to achieve growth and prosperity.

He commended the Indian government for the investment and gains made in the field of ICT.

Rajesh Nandan Prasad, High Commissioner of India in Ghana, said a total of 1,350 training slots were allotted each year and 800 were earmarked for candidates from Africa.

He said 70 training slots had been earmarked for Ghana this year adding that since the inception of the programme, India had provided technical assistance worth more than $2 billion to developing countries.
 
Daily Guide

Sunday, December 2, 2007

National Telecom Policy and Regulatory workshop opens

Dr. Benjamin Aggrey-Ntim, Minister of Communications on Monday stressed the need for Telecommunication Regulators to consider not only new approaches to regulate the sector, but also consider the convergence of Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Information Technology into a Multimedia Industry.

"Even though this workshop would concentrate on Telecommunications Policy and Regulation, you should have at the back of your minds that technological convergence is diminishing such regulatory distinctions between Telecommunications, Broadcasting and the Information Technology industries," he said.

Dr. Aggrey-Ntim, was opening a five-day National Workshop for Telecommunications Experts from the West African sub-region to address and share ideas on regulatory issues and challenges affecting the industry.

Participants from Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda and Ghana are attending the workshop organised by the West Africa Telecommunication Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and the National Communication Authority (NCA), Ghana.

The workshop on the theme: "Changing Landscape of Regulation in Africa: Challenges and Capacity Demands" is being sponsored by NetTel@Africa, a Network for capacity building and knowledge exchange in ICT policy, regulation application.

The Minister said in the increasingly complex environment, the policy makers and the regulatory authorities were expected to be futurists in thinking, with the 'roadmap' and directions needed to stay ahead and navigate affairs of the sector.

Dr. Aggrey-Ntim said, the high-level representation at the workshop should encourage the participants to deliberate on issues that would help provide long lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the communications industry while building strong networking bonds between themselves.

He, therefore, urged the regulators to promote universal access to communication technologies in the sub-region, show interest in protection of the rights of consumers and citizens and assurance of safeguard and redress.

"As regulators within the sub-region, I advise you to familiarize yourselves with the regional and sub-regional initiatives being promoted to harmonize ICT policies, regulations and laws so as to facilitate regional integration and enhance the attraction of our countries for greater investments.

"It is in this regard that we should pursue our infrastructure development in a harmonious manner that would grant our citizens the ease of communication and mobility," he said.

Dr Aggrey-Ntim said that would be facilitated if the countries were able to develop the enabling regulations and common legislation across the networks and jurisdictions.

Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike of the WATRA Secretariat, said WATRA was established in 2004 to address the present realities of the telecommunications industry in the sub-region while focusing on the need for West Africa to evolve a harmonized regulatory identity to boost investment and investor-confidence.

WATRA has 14 ECOWAS member countries as signatories and headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.

Member countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivore, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Mr Bernard Forson Jnr., Director General, NCA and Chairman of WATRA said the role of regulators was very important in the development of strong, competitive and socially responsive communications industries.

He, therefore, called for the full support of member governments to build capacities in investment areas and harmonize the negative areas of the sector to achieve results.


Source: GNA