Accra, Ghana//-Ghana’s government recognises that the key to successful digital transformation lies in collaboration and inclusivity both locally and internationally.
To this end, the government through its National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has launched the maiden National Information Communication Technology (ICT) Week in Accra.
The National ICT Week, which is the creation of NITA, the National ICT regulator, took the form of a week-long commemorative activities to celebrate the significance, relevance, and contributions of ICT to national development.
Performing the launch of the ICT Week, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ms Ama Pomaa Boateng who read a speech for the sector minister, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said during the week, there would have interactive panel discussions where experts and thought leaders would share their insights on accelerating the adoption of ICT in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, and finance.
These discussions, according to her, would explore the challenges, opportunities, and best strategies for embracing digital solutions to address the pressing needs of our nation.
“Additionally, we will design workshops that focus on building digital skills, particularly for our youth, as they are the future workforce and entrepreneurs who will drive our digital economy.
These workshops will provide practical training in areas such as coding, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship, equipping our youth with the necessary tools to compete in the global digital landscape.”
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful was quick to add that as they embark on this journey, they must also recognise the importance of a secure and trusted digital environment.
Cybersecurity is paramount in safeguarding our digital assets and ensuring that our citizens’ personal information remains protected, she emphasised.
“Therefore, we will have dedicated sessions to discuss cybersecurity best practices and measures to create a resilient digital infrastructure”.
Furthermore, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful called upon the country’s academic institutions to emphasize ICT education and research, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and technological adaptation.
Embracing emerging technologies
For her, embracing emerging technologies would allow them to stay at the forefront of innovation and keep pace with the rapidly evolving global landscape.
Touching on the theme of this year’s National ICT Week-‘Empowering Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development’, she noted that the theme resonates deeply with the vision they hold for their beloved country.
As she put it: “We recognise that the rapid advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have the potential to revolutionize every aspect of our lives and transform our nation’s trajectory towards sustainable development”.
Unparalleled fusion of innovation and opportunity
In this digital age, we are witnessing an unparalleled fusion of innovation and opportunity. The power of technology can bridge gaps, break barriers, and provide unprecedented access to essential services, education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic opportunities, even in the remotest parts of our country, the Minister observed.
Ghana’s journey towards sustainable development
Ghana’s journey towards sustainable development cannot be achieved without harnessing the full potential of ICT, according to Mrs Owusu-Ekuful.
“Today, we take a significant step forward, acknowledging that ICT is not merely a tool but an enabler of progress. It is the catalyst that drives inclusive growth, empowers our citizens, and paves the way for a prosperous future”.
She therefore encouraged every citizen to be part of the National ICT Week’s transformative journey by embracing technology, thinking innovatively, and contributing to the digital transformation of the nation.
“Let us embark on the National ICT week-long celebration with enthusiasm and determination, knowing that we are shaping a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and digitally empowered. Together, we can build a Ghana where prosperity and opportunities are accessible to all”.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) and all stakeholders who have tirelessly worked to make this event possible.
“Your dedication and commitment to the advancement of ICT in Ghana is truly commendable”.
In his welcome address, the Director General of NITA, Richard Okyere-Fosu, noted that Ghana over the past few years has quickened its efforts to digitise its economy.
Within the sub region, Ghana is one of the most successful countries when it comes to digitalisation. The legal and regulatory environment has the needed elements to support a vibrant and competitive digital growth.
Infrastructure development
Ghana has done such magnificent work in its infrastructure development (connectivity, data centres, digital payment, identity system, security infrastructure, among others) to support its digital economy.
There is also a big push in innovation within the digital economy space as well as development of the needed skills to support the ecosystem.
Ghana has five Submarine Cable Providers: SAT-3, MainOne, WASC, Glo and ACE. This gives the country even more redundant fibre, which opens it up for more businesses to come in, Mr Okyere-Fosu said.
Ghana is ranked number one in Africa and 79th globally in fixed broadband, according to Speed test Global Index – Feb 2022.
NITA via its Eastern Corridor Fibre network and the government connectivity project through the World Bank is connecting all the 16 regions (including police stations, hospitals, post offices and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies) to ensure the country is well covered, Mr Okyere-Fosu added.
Furthermore, the Mobile Network Operators have also contributed to the network coverage in the country by means of deliberate policy by the regulator National Communications Authority (NCA) to share infrastructure through national roaming and tower colocation to reduce capital expenditure in the telecom sector.
Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) through the rural telephony project is assuring connectivity to the rural areas.
Per the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Digital Development Dashboard, Ghana network coverage is 97% as of 2020; “this is foundational to our digital economy”, the NITA boss pointed out.
“Ghana is proud of its Accra-based National Data Centre and Kumasi-based Disaster Recovery (DR) location. With agility in mind, the government recently launched a Government Cloud (G-Cloud) to provide Cloud services to government institutions.
This fosters innovation in the creation of software and the hosting needs for government IT departments”.
Due to the favourable environment, private businesses like PAIX, ONIX, and MainOne have created Tier 4 and Tier 3 data centres, respectively, to support both private and public sector operations.
Ghana is also collaborating with Smart Africa to create federated Cloud solutions throughout the continent to accomplish two crucial goals: creating locally consumable content and keeping the data we produce on the continent.
“We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history where digitalisation is taking over all sectors in the society. The convergence of technology and sustainable development presents us with an unparalleled opportunity to build a Ghana that is innovative, inclusive, and sustainable”.
He pledged NITA’s unwavering commitment to driving this transformation and to supporting all stakeholders in their efforts to embrace the digital future and the ICT Week would help create the needed awareness.
Global economy
The global economy is progressively becoming more digital because of ICTs and its development opens new possibilities for society.
Fast-evolving new business models are appearing in industries including mobile banking, online learning, telemedicine, and remote employment. The information economy, according to Brynjolfsson (Brynjolfsson and McAfee 2014), is referred to as the second machine age because of the development of increasingly intelligent computing systems.
In the Google Play store, there are over three million programs available for download and usage as the number of Internet users increase.
With the enormous number of hours spent exploring, conversing, discussing, and forwarding digital messages, more people than ever are using Wikipedia, Facebook, Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
By 2030, the global economy is expected to be supported by Internet of Things (IoT) alone to the tune of $621 billion (Weston, 2023).
Since these technologies are extensive and networked, they have demonstrated value in assisting with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, such as lowering extreme poverty, raising quality of life, and fostering creativity. However, inadequacies in technology legislation, inadequate social innovation, and unequal technology adoption undermine the potential that ICTs provide notwithstanding its contributions.
