Digital Inclusion Programme to be launched in Ghana

Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - The Ministry of Communications, acting in concert with Intel Corporation and the Education and Sports Ministry, is to launch a Digital Inclusion Programme, an initiative to help more Ghanaians to own personal computers.

The programme involves assembling of computers locally to help bring down the cost to about 300 dollars from the present high of between 1,800 and 2,000 dollars and a financing mechanism under which credit facilities would be extended to those who would want to buy them. Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Communications Minister, was speaking to newsmen after leading some officials of Intel to pay a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on Monday. A prototype of the computer for the programme was shown to the President who said he was happy with the initiative.

It is estimated that only about 0.25 per cent of Ghana's population of about 20 million uses the Internet.

Mr Kan-Dapaah noted that the programme would not only help to significantly enhance connectivity to the information super highway and education but also promote technology transfer.