Republic of Ghana


National ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee



The National ICT4AD Consultative Pocess

Dialogue With the National House of Chiefs

The National ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee met with the President and members of the National House of Chiefs on Thursday, the 28th of November 2002 as part of the National Consultative exercise aimed at developing an ICT-driven socio-economic development policy and plan.

The meeting was attended by Paramount Chiefs representing from all the 10 Regional House of Chiefs of Ghana. A presentation was made by Professor Clement Dzidonu, Chairman of the National ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee on the topic:
‘The Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development Process: The Challenge of Our Time’. A supporting presentation was also made by Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor, a member of the UN ICT Task Force.

 section of chiefs

List of Participants

Some of the key Comments and Observations made by Chiefs

• From the presentation, it is obvious that Ghana is facing a number of socio-economic development challenges that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

• There is no doubt that ICTs could play a major role in facilitating Ghana’s development – There is a need for the country to embrace ICTs if it is to achieve its developmental goals in the new information age.

• The Ghana ICT for accelerated development process is extremely important and this could lead to the reconstruction of the economy.

• Electricity plays a vital role in the deployment of ICTs --- there is a need to address issues relating to how electricity can be extended to the rural areas to aid the process of the deployment of ICTs in those areas as well.

• The Chiefs appealed to the Committee to consider the possibility of generating electricity using solar power. --- This they believe would help reduce the burden on the Akosombo dam and assist in the deployment of ICTs to all areas of the country.

• There is a need to address the telecommunications infrastructure problems facing the country if the Ghana ICT for Development process is to succeed.

• The nation’s success in pursuing an ICT-led development agenda will to a large extend depend on the youths. The youths should therefore be equipped with the necessary skills to help them develop and move the nation forward.

• Basic literacy of the population will be playing a key role in the ICT for development process. There is therefore the need to address issues relating to the illiteracy rate of the country.

• The countries that have developed made it partly through high literacy rates of their populations. The Malaysian and Singaporean success story can to some extent be attributed to those nation’s high literacy rates and skilled manpower.

• It is essential that every effort should be made to insulate the Ghana ICT for accelerated development process from party politics. Need to bring all political parties on board to ensure the success of the process.

Next - Meeting with some Companies dealing in Hardware & Software