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Award to accelerate Ghana
ICT launched
Accra, March 20, Ghanadot/GNA – The provision of modern
telecommunication infrastructure is key to the development
of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry
and the economy.
It is for this reason that efforts are being made to provide
broadband infrastructure through the construction of the
National Optic fibre Communication backbone to reduce the
cost of communication and other related services.
Mr Fredrick Opare-Ansah, Deputy Minister of Communications,
said this when he launched the Second Ghana ICT Awards
designed to serve as a key catalyst for government and the
private sector for accelerated national development.
He said when broadband capacity was sufficiently made
available to all parts of the country, it would help to
undertake and implement ICT programmes in governance,
health, education and agriculture among other sectors to
enable it to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural
areas.
Mr Opare-Ansah said the nation had over the years witnessed
a significant improvement in the communication sector due to
the enabling environment and confidence generated for
healthy competition among the industry players.
“By the end of the year, 2007, the total number of access
lines in the country stood at 7,990,113 and this translates
to a national tele-density of over 30 percent,” he added.
Mr Opare-Ansah said to enhance quality service delivery,
government had carried out extensive work in the ICT sector,
which had enabled the country to introduce the award to
support and create competition and ensure professionalism in
the sector.
He said the award would also create greater awareness on the
role of ICTs in public service and the development process
within the framework of information society, evaluate and
recognize standards of excellence for growth and
development, and encourage government and institutions to
use ICT and motivate stakeholders in effective utilization
of ICT.
Ms Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Managing Director, Busy Internet,
said the judges would come from seven core areas: the
Judiciary, banking, education, media, mobile industry, ICT
associations and the telecommunication sector.
She enumerated the categories as: top ICT personality of the
year, top ISP of the year, top telecom provider, top
hardware and software of the year.
Others are top ICT project of the year, top government ICT
project of the year, top ICT institution of the year,
Internet café of the year, foreign entity supporting ICT
development in Ghana, best ICT incubate and BPO of the year.
Ms Akofio-Sowah said as ICT had become a daily activity,
there was the need for all and sundry to be involved and
help in achieving the successes the country was striving for
in the industry.
Mr Anthony Sarpong, Audit partner, KPMG, called on the
judges to ensure transparency in the selection of award
winners.
The Ghana ICT awards ceremony is slated for May 17, 2008 and
the public could access information on ghanaictawards.com.
GNA
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