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

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