IS THE GHANAIAN READY TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE INTERNET?

Information comes in all shapes and sizes. Knowing some of its characteristics will help you better identify your information need and evaluate what you are receiving. Where you search and find your information will depend on what type of information you need. A gradual shift from the traditional human powered economy to today's knowledge driven economy is yet to dawn on organisations in Ghana, if not to say, Africa as a whole.

Systems and technological inventions have helped in pioneering this transformation. Yet the very people for which these inventions are to serve and benefit are largely ignorant of their existence and or are being under utilised when they are eventually used. One of such powerful inventions making real the concept of the knowledge/information based economy is the internet.

The internet also known as the World Wide Web is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use special electronic communication codes to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consist of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The internet carries a vast range of information resources and services that is aimed at providing a common platform where information can easily be communicated evenly across board among its users.

The internet has accelerated new forms of human interactions other than the traditional modes of communication we were accustomed to. Examples include instant messaging, internet forums, social networking and online shopping, to mention a few. In the area of research and access to information, the internet serves are the best resource avenue. It only takes one to Google to get access to different array of information you could think of.

The internet is allowing greater flexibility in working hours and location. Its services can be accessed almost anywhere by numerous means, especially through mobile internet devices hence accessible to potentially large audience all over the world.

The question that arises has to do with the nature of authenticity of information hosted or pasted on the internet. The relevance, accuracy and timeliness of the information are also of a concern. One concern worth noticing and addressed by many private organisations and public institutions in Ghana is the hosting of out dated information on their websites.

The government of Ghana through the National Communications Authority and fixed line operators introduced new telephone numbering codes effective from 1st May 2010 in order to meet with global telecommunication standards. A deadline of up to August 2010 was given after which all calls with the old numbers were to be no longer successful. Few days into the one year when the new code numbering became effective, most organisations in Ghana have not updated their telephoning records on their receipts and tickets and including their webpage's on the internet.

Notable among them is the STC tickets, receipts of many private and public organisations, website of Bank of Ghana with the hyperlink title: List of Banks in Ghana, Ghanaweb: Telephone codes Ghana, hyperlink: Country calling Codes – telephone Area Codes For Ghana, Ghana Embassy: Ghana International Dialling Code, Ghana Tourism Board: Telecommunication – Ghana Tourism Homepage, just to mention a few. And not to talk of institutional e-mails that are never checked after creating them.

The coming of the internet has really made the world a global village. Hence if we want to enjoy the benefits globalisation brings along then we have to make maximum use of the internet. We have to constantly update data and information pasted on websites. I guess you can image the volume of economic loss we have incurred by the inability of many potential foreigners who might want to transact business prospects with government institutions and as well as private firms which could not go through because of the wrong telephoning codes on most websites. For instance, the recent Easter funfair at Kwahu.

Hosting a website on the internet is as important as ensuring that the information pasted on the site is as accurate, relevant and timely as always. This is why it is important that government institutions and private organisations should keep up to time by ensuring that information and data on their sites are constantly and periodically updated.

There are many youth loitering about who are knowledgeable in computer skills and applications. Yet they find themselves unemployed. Is it not time that companies and organisations consider employing some of these people to ensure a constant updates of information and data on their webpage's? If only they could image the magnitude of income loss to their institutions as a result of hosting outdated information on the internet, they won't find any difficulty in employing these youths.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Signed.
Aaron Lordstone
(0242548430)
National Service Personnel
Wa Polytechnic.
P. O. Box 553
Wa.