ECOWAS ICT Ministers to meet in Accra

West African Ministers responsible for Information, Communication and Technology are meeting in Accra, on Saturday, July 31, to adopt a strategic document for the implementation of a regional Wide Area Network (ECOWAN).

A statement issued by the Department of Communication, ECOWAS Commission said ECOWAN was estimated at 100 million dollars.

It explained that it would provide the sub-region with a common platform for the seamless exchange of information for enhanced productivity, expand opportunities for knowledge sharing and promote regional integration.

The ECOWAN infrastructure, which is being developed by the ECOWAS Commission, is a public sector e-governance platform that would connect the Commission, other ECOWAS institutions and affiliated government offices of Member States.

Its scope would include infrastructure, application, capacity building, operations and maintenance as well as monitoring and evaluation.

The statement said during the meeting, the Ministers would, in addition, consider the report of a preceding experts meeting, held in Accra, on Monday, July 26, which proposed the ECOWAN governance and management structure and activities required for its development and implementation.

The implementation strategy is expected to include the setting up of a Steering Committee – the highest decision-making body – comprising ICT Ministers of Member States, a Project Implementation Committee composed of stakeholders, and ICT experts from the sub-region, and a Project Implementation Unit to be located at the ECOWAS Commission.