Ghana ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee

The National ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee met with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday 22nd May 2003 as part of the National Consultative exercise aimed at developing an ICT-driven socio-economic development policy and plan.

The meeting was attended by the Regional Minister, Deputy Minister of Information, Heads of Departments, Ministries, and representatives from the Government Agencies.

There was a general agreement for the ICT policy to focus on capacity building; Human Resource is the key to the successful implementation of the ICT policy. Record keeping must also be improved to make information easily accessible and reliable.

The issue of sustainability must be addressed by the Government taking into consideration the cost of implementation of the ICT Policy programmes

The lack of adequate resources and infrastructure at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) must be addressed. Basic logistics in the form of Computers and accessories, telecommunication facilities etc must be provided, especially for the Public Sector in the remote and deprived areas.

Focus must be placed on education, especially ICTs in education. ICTs in education must be started from the Basic to the Tertiary level. Community Libraries must be well equipped to serve the communities in the acquisition of information.

Alternative means of generating power must be research to ensure continuous supply of electricity for the smooth implementation of the ICT policy. Additionally the high cost of telecommunication, especially in the communities outside the capital must be addressed.

There is the need to set up a Population Information Network using ICT for the collection, processing and dissemination of population and development data to various users.

Marginalisation of rural areas in the implementation of the ICT policy should be avoided. The awareness of ICT must be strengthened through education, especially in rural communities.

There is the need to address policy issues relating to cost implications associated with the implementation and sustainability of the programme without over-reliance on foreign direct investment.

Policy statements must be developed relating to planning, development and management to meet the deprived regions.

Ghana’s educational systems and training facilities must be re-oriented to support ICT infrastructure. It is essential for the country to undertake the development of hardware, software and infrastructure to avoid the dumping of outmoded systems from international sources.

Training of personnel and adequate infrastructure is crucial for the development of ICTs in the country.

There is the need to integrate ICT in all sectors of the economy. ICT must be deployed to the Fire Service, National Security, ticketing and bookings for transportation, entertainment, hotels etc.

The Policy must seek to address the electronic divide; the rift between the haves and have-nots.

The benefits of ICT must to communicated to all to encourage all and sundry to embrace ICT and acquire some knowledge and skill in ICT.

The policy must seek to demystify the problem of insecurity between the Public Sector and the Private Sector.

There is the need for specific policy instruments in the integration of all sectors of the economy. ICT facility should be affordable. There should also be the creation of a database on regional basis.

The Policy must address the issue of how ICT would be useful for example to the Prisons Officer, Agric. Officer, Community Development Officer? ICT must be broken down to the various professions.

It is important to find a relationship between ICT and other professions. How could ICT be of help to the people in the rural and deprived communities? There is the need to develop expertise to manage ICTs and its accompanying facilities.