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31.03.2008 Business & Finance

Ghana Celebrates ICT Awards

31.03.2008 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

The Ministry of Communications in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, is expected to hold the second National Information Communication Technology (ICT) Awards on May 17, 2008 as part of the celebration of World Telecoms and Information Day.

The awards reinforces the commitment of government to place emphasis on potential of information and communication technology and also provide a foundation for building an information and knowledge society within the overall frame work of its ICT for accelerated development.

It is also designed to serve as a key catalyst for government and the private sector to drive the programme of using ICT for accelerated national development.

The awards categories will include Top ICT Personality of The Year; Top ISP of The Year; Top Telecom Provider; Top Hardware and Software of The Year; Top Government ICT Project of The Year; Top ICT Training Institution of The Year; Top Internet Café of The Year; and Best Foreign Entity Supporting ICT Development In Ghana.

Speaking at the launch of the 2nd Nation ICT Awards 2008, the Deputy Minister Of Communications Frederick Opare-Ansah disclosed that the Ghana ICT awards exist to acknowledge businesses, individuals and other stakeholders that are actively engaged in the developmental journey of building a positive reputation and dynamic growth in a socially responsible way.

“The award recognizes the need and importance of rewarding our hard working entrepreneurs and practitioners for their immense contributions to the development of the industry and with it, the national economy.

“Government also recognizes that the provision of modern telecommunication infrastructure is essential to the development of the sector and it is for this reason that efforts are being made to provide broad band infrastructure through the construction of the National Optic Fibre Communications Backbone to help reduce the cost of communications and other related services,” he added.

He affirmed that the first phase of the project- the southern loop with an extension in Tamale- has been completed and it is now on test.

He observed that when the broad band capacity is sufficiently made available to all parts of the country, it would be possible to undertake and implement ICT programme in governance, health, education and others to enable the country bridge the digital divide between rural communities and the urban centers and cities.

The minister also used the platform to announce that Ghana is hosting the Africa Region Preparatory meeting for the World Standardization Telecom Assemble (WTSA) to be held on may 26-30, 2008 in Accra.

He said the international telecommunication union (ITU) organizes the WTSA every four years to establish global standards for the ICT industry.

“Ghana will therefore welcome the stakeholders from Africa to deliberate on issues of common interest and also develop common proposals for Africa to be presented to ITU world telecommunication standardization assembly to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa”.

By Linda Tenyah

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