Google highlights web opportunities in Ghana

Accra, May 5, GNA - Google Ghana has trained about 600 technical savvy entrepreneurs, developers and journalists on the effective use of Google tools at a web and mobile conference in Accra on Thursday. =A0A platform was created for participants to discuss the future of web application development, and given training on Google's products and online business skills.

The G-Ghana training programme featured some of Google's best engineers, product managers, business managers and leadership who are in Ghana from around the globe.

The conference on the theme: 91Local Growth, Global Impact' confirms Google's commitment to driving the web forward in Ghana, and highlights the entrepreneurial opportunities presented by the Internet.

Attendees were given the chance to explore Google's open source technologies through a combination of technical talks, breakout sessions and code-labs run by engineers and business teams from across the globe.

Conference content included Google's developer and business technologies, ranging from Android, mobile development and AppEngine to Google Maps for business, website optimization and online advertising.

Google tools for the development of the news industry in Ghana were also highlighted, through tailor-made workshops for journalists and news webmasters.

Commenting on the event, Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Google Lead for Ghana, said, "We're delighted to be kicking off our second G-Ghana event today. G-Ghana will help raise awareness among Ghanaian web developers, consumers and businesses about the opportunities and value of the Internet. It's also a great opportunity for Google to learn about the exciting developments already happening in Ghana."

The conference is the latest in a series of interactive forums and technical days that Google has been holding across Africa this year to promote innovation and business in the region.

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of peopl= e around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets.

According to Ms Akrofi Sowah, Google's mission in Africa is to make the internet an integral part of every day life in Africa, by increasing its relevance and usefulness, eliminating access barriers for potential users, and developing products that are meaningful for the countries in the region.