Monday, June 16, 2008

Explore the privileges of ICT – Tema MCE

The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr David Quaye Annang, on Monday, entreated Ghanaians to explore the privileges of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in every aspect of their lives.
Mr Annang said ICT should not be limited to only specialized services, such as banking, as individuals could benefit greatly from it when well utilized.
He made the call at the launch of Busyinternet Tema, the first branch of the company, an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The MCE said, to reap the full benefits of ICT in all aspect of the country's economy, the government was promoting the study of ICT in the educational sector, starting with the basic schools.
He explained that when students are exposed to the benefits of ICT at an early age, they impart the knowledge to their peers and the elderly as well as appreciate its importance to their existence in the future.
Touching on the benefits of the new branch to the metropolis, Mr Annang said schools in the metropolis without ICT facilities could patronize the services of the Centre, adding that, it would also help expand business activities in the industrial hub.
Miss Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Managing Director of Busyinternet, in a welcome statement said, the company, which has operated in the country for the past seven years would provide services and ICT teachings to 30 schools in the Tema metropolis, indicating that, it has already started with students from Naylor SDA School.
Urging Ghanaian establishments to concentrate on developing the talents of their employees in addition to making profits, Ms Akofio-Sowah observed that Ghana would not develop when companies limit their operations to profit making.
Mr Mark Davies, Founder of Busyinternet on his part said the opening of the branch was a step towards achieving the company's aim of providing Africans access to the social and economic opportunities of ICT.
Mr Davies noted that the ISP sought to blend technology with service, to challenge Africans to see the impact of ICT in their lives and the continent.
Representatives of Fidelity Capital Partners and Stanbic Bank, partners of the company pledged their support to Busyinternet and congratulated its management for winning the Best ISP and Life Time Achievement awards.


http://www.modernghana.com/news/169074/1/explore-the-privileges-of-ict-tema-mce.html

Government establishes 230 CICs in Districts

The government is to establish 230 Community Information Centres (CIC) in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country. The programme, which falls within the government's development framework for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) for accelerated development aims at spreading the use of ICTs to improve the country's economic base and accelerate growth by transforming Ghana into information enabled society.

Dr. Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications announced this at the inauguration of a CIC in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region at the weekend. The government spent GH¢ 70,000 to build and equip the Centre, while the Bimbilla District Assembly used 50 million cedis to furnish it.

Other districts in the Northern Region to benefit from CICs include Damongo in the West Gonja District, Salaga in the East Gonja District, Yendi District, Walewale in the West Mamprusi District, Gushiegu District and Saboba in the Saboba/Chereponi District. Dr. Ntim said the CIC programme was aimed at bridging the digital divide between the rural and the urban centres and also forms part of government's efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty.

Dr. Ntim said, as an interface between the citizens and government, the CICs would help disseminate information from the government to the people and simultaneously cumulate data and opinions of the people for input into governments planning machinery. "The CICs serving as model tools of ICT would help integrate and coordinate development planning at all levels and sectors, thus establishing an effective national development planning system," Dr. Ntim said.

He said government policies would be easily accessible by the local people and thus leading to an effective roll-out and implementation on the local front while also providing a platform for the training in ICT for school kids, market women, farmers, teachers' and staff of decentralised departments.

Dr. Ntim warned the management of the CICs not to turn them into "cyber-cafe or internet caf=E9 type facility" but to remain focused on their core mission of providing access to ICTs, creating awareness for ITC and providing support for the local business community. Mr. Salifu Sa-eed, the Nanumba North District Chief Executive (DCE) urged teachers, educational authorities and parents to encourage their students or children to make maximum use of the facility. He said reasonable user fees would be charged at the Centre to help defray user cost to ensure the sustainability of the facility. 15 June 08
Source:
GNA

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Ghana loses number one position of internet services in West Africa

Inadequate and high cost of communications infrastructure, lack of consistent and sustained efforts in the implementation of the national ICT policy and ineffective regulatory body have been identified as some of the problems impeding the development of the telecom sector in the country.

These impediments have caused the country to lose its position as number one in the provision of internet services in the West African sub-region to Senegal. Ghana is now ranked third after Senegal and Nigeria.

The 2006 communication policy and advocacy report launched on Thursday by the Ghana Internet Services Providers Association (GISPA) said the early start made by the country in implementing the telecom sector reforms yielded some positive results, including the attraction of foreign invertors such as Scancom Ghana and Millicom International.

Throwing more light on some of the problems in the telecom sector, the report mentioned the National Communications Authority's (NCA) delay in responding to Internet Services Providers' (ISP) complaints, lack of transparent licensing procedures and the long delay in appointing NCA's Director-General and Board as some problems.

The report conducted by Comconsult Limited, a communication and marketing firm, said the unclear role for the private sector regarding the implementation of the Information Technology policy, the non-existence of an ICT policy unit at the Ministry of Communications and the inadequacy of resources for fixed network expansion were also some of the problems.

On the way forward, the report called for an urgent elimination of impediments to ICT strategy implementation, the strengthening of the capacity of the NCA and greater public and private sector cooperation for ICT policy formulation and implementation.

The report also recommended a faster approach in the privatization of Ghana Telecom and Westel to create room for the needed private sector investment required for their expansion.

The introduction of tariff reduction strategies in consultation with stakeholders, the strengthening of GISPA capacity to become active in ICT policy formulation and the elimination of regulatory challenges to facilitate increased investments by ISPs were mentioned as some of the means by which the sector could be improved.

On the contributions of ISPs to the nation's economy, the report talked about internet connectivity for public and private sector entities such as schools and other organizations.

The report also mentioned the creation of jobs and the facilitation of the establishment of a networked economy and the creation of internet dependent enterprises such as banks, academic research networks and online payment facility (e-cash).
Mr Desmond Boateng, the representative from the Ministry of Communications, promised government's preparedness to help develop the telecom sector and look into the report.
GNA