Gov't To Develop Information Technology

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for Communication and Technology, yesterday said that Government was determined to put the nation in the forefront of West Africa Countries in terms of Information Communication Technology (ICT). "As a government with private driven motives, it's our priority to develop the ICT industry to make the country attractive to foreign investors," he said.

Mr Kan-Dapaah made the remarks when communication specialists from the Commonwealth Technology Organization (CTO) based in UK called on him in Accra. The team, led by Professor David Souter, Chief Executive Officer of CTO, came to study the rate at which telecommunication was extended into the rural areas of most West African communities.

Mr Kan-Dapaah noted that so far the " explosion " in mobile phones in the country was quiet appreciable and that efforts were being made to improve upon the quality of service. He said the monopoly at Ghana Telecom had been broken to pave way for other private companies to get involved to ensure competition. "This is because more landlines are needed yet the capital inflow from taxes are woefully inadequate, therefore, the need to create enabling environment for private participation".

The Minister noted that efforts were being made to produce a new telecommunication policy since the existing guidelines document did not cover all areas of communication. He gave the assurance that government would assist stakeholders dealing with communication to extend coverage to the rural areas of the country.

Professor Souter said the research findings revealed that there was a great deal of demand in terms of telecommunication in the rural areas. He said the findings had stimulated them as private men and that the necessary steps would be taken to explore the deprived communities.

Prof Souter said because landlines were not available in the rural areas mobile phone system would be established as a pilot investment to examine its profitability.