Draft National Information Communication Plan Out in August

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will formulate a draft National Information and Communication Plan by August this year.

According to the sector Minister, Felix K. Owusu-Agyapong, the plan will open up the basic telecommunications market to a wider range of players and investors, promote the use of tele-centres and extend access to under-served communities. It will also promote competition in the Internet service provision market. The Minister was speaking at a flag raising ceremony to mark World Telecommunication Day in Accra and to open the fifth West African Telecommunication Exhibition (AITEC 2001). The celebration is on the theme: Internet, Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said the ministry will enforce a legal framework to protect intellectual property and copyright as a way to promote local content and also ensure reasonably priced access for schools, universities, libraries and other public service institutions to stimulate usage of the internet. He described the advent of the Internet as an important development, saying, "it is difficult to conceive of any form of successful enterprise that does not use the Internet."

"It is in this light that I have initiated a programme within six months, to help all senior officials of their ministries to become computer literate capable of skilfully using the word and spreadsheet programmes as well as the internet." The Ministry's interest in using the Internet, he said, stems from a pilot testing of a National Information Clearing House Project, which sought to network a number of vital ministries in storage and sharing of vital information.

To further boost this, the ministry is collaborating with Arrow Network Systems to establish "Odwumfo," a resource centre that will make it possible for Ghanaian professionals throughout the world to provide inputs to discussions toward key technical and policy issues. This, the Minister said, is in line with government's policy to include all in discussions of national issues, adding, "professionals do not need to be appointed government functionaries in order to contribute to good governance. All one needs is an Internet connection and membership of Odwumfo."

Mr Owusu-Agyapong underscored government's commitment to an effective telecommunication base to ensure provision of Internet services to rural and under-served areas.

In his statement to mark the day, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said developing countries will reap the benefits of Internet use, if they develop the requisite infrastructure, notably telephone lines, bring down the price of Internet access and ensure that content of the Internet is available in many different languages.