Work To Begin On Phase One Of ICT Park

Haruna Iddrisu - Minister of Communications

Haruna Iddrisu - Minister of Communications A sod-cutting ceremony was held Monday for work to begin on the establishment of the first phase of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Park in the Free Zone Enclave in Tema.

The project, being funded by the World Bank at a cost of $10 million, is expected to stimulate technology growth and knowledge-based businesses locally.

Twenty-two acres of the 50-acre park will be developed under the first phase, involving the provision of a well laid out technology infrastructure for interested investors to rent for operations.

When completed, the project will provide business support services for export-oriented small and medium ICT businesses to optimise their potential.

The Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are facilitating the project, which is being executed by Berock Ventures Limited.

Performing the sod-cutting ceremony, the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said the ministry had initiated an investment drive to identify prospective investors for the park.

He observed that technology parks across the world had been recognised as an important mechanism for innovation and growth of high-tech entrepreneurial and regional economic development and a source of revenue for firms.

He was optimistic that the use of the technology park would open up Ghana for foreign investment and provide opportunities for people to even operate in the comfort of their homes.

Mr Iddrisu gave an assurance that the government was determined to deepen private-government partnership in the area of job creation and industrial growth.

He acknowledged the immense contributions of the World Bank and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the development of the project.

He said another $5 million had been secured for a second park to be established in Cape Coast from September 2012.

Already, the University of Cape Coast had provided land for the project.

Plans are also underway for technology parks to be established in other regions to generate wealth and create jobs.

Mr Iddrisu urged the stakeholders, comprising the government, public institutions, the private sector and investors, to collaborate to make the technology park project in Ghana a success.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, was of the view that the initiative was a significant opportunity for the private sector to develop through technology.

She said in the next few years, the project landscape would look different and have a thriving technology for the country.

The World Bank Representative, Mr Kofi Boateng Agyin, gave an assurance that the World Bank would work with the government to provide resources for the successful completion of the project.