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Ghana Boosts Local Digital Economy

The over 800km Fibre Optic Broadband Backbone Infrastructure project stretching from Ho in the Volta Region to Bawku in the Upper East Region with a link from Yendi to Tamale, both in the Northern Region has been completed by the government.

 The 38 million euros project which was undertaken by Alcatel-Lucent of Denmark, covers 27 municipal and district assemblies has been extended to the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho.

President John Dramani Mahama who announced this explained: “The project will open up the Eastern Corridor to the information superhighway and offer not only teaching and learning opportunities but also bring the digital economy closer to the area”.

“A growing telecommunications industry requires a dynamic regulatory framework, which

ensures customer satisfaction, good return on investment and adequate participation of

Ghanaians in the sector”, he told the nation in his State of the Nation Address.

To this end in August 2014 Cabinet approved four policies: The Mobile Virtual Network

Operating License; The Interconnect Clearing House License, The International Wholesale

Carrier License and the Unified Telecom License.

These policies, President Mahama said when implemented would inure to the benefit of all stakeholders in the country.

Touching on Girls In ICT, the President urged more females to venture into the ICT and Telecommunication sector, and commended: “Ms. Farida Bedwei’s service to the nation on the Board of the National Communications Authority serves as encouragement to many girls who are thinking of venturing into ICT and Telecommunications.

Farida, who is also with us this morning, I am informed, has distinguished herself creditably”.

To encourage more girls to develop interest in ICT and Telecommunications, Ghana has

been observing the Girls in ICT Day. As part of the celebration of the day, girls from public

schools are brought together, tutored and mentored to develop interest in the study and use

of ICTs, according to President Mahama.

Madam Eva Lokko and her team are championing this initiative with the support of

the Ministry of Communications, he stated.

Last year 411 girls from 48 public schools participated in the programme in the Eastern Region. These promising young girls were trained using the Community Information Centres being constructed across the country.

In furtherance of the commitment of Government to use the medium of ICT to promote an all-inclusive information and knowledge society to benefit underserved and un-served communities, Government continued to promote the Community Information Centre concept.

In 2014 utilizing part of the savings from a Value-for-Money Audit of the e-Government Platform Project, we commenced the construction of 20 enhanced Community Information Centres in all the ten regions.

The centres are located in Keta, Battor, Techiman Krobo, Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Bodi, Effiduase, Glefe, Pantang Presby Cluster of Schools, Drobonso, Asuogyaman, Lambussie, Nandom, Welembelle, Sagnarigu, Pusiga, Nalerigu, Kpetoe, Talensi, Ofoase, Lassia-Tuolu. Ten (10) of these have been completed and ready for commissioning, the President Mahama stated. African Eye News.com

 

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