International IBM team to support modernisation of electricity supply

Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - A team from IBM, an international technology a= nd consultancy company, will arrive in the country this weekend to work with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to modernize its computer systems to improve electricity supply.

The team, which would be in the country for a month, would also work o= n a number of projects aimed at supporting national economic and social development. "IBM is helping companies and governments around the world to use advanced technologies to do things smarter," said Joe Mensah, Country General Manager of IBM Ghana, said in a press statement issued in Accra on Friday. "In Ghana we will use our experience and expertise in the utility sector to help improve the management of electricity supply in the country. Our employees will work pro bono and IBM will benefit from the experience b= y helping to develop its next generation of leaders." The statement said the team of 11 IBM employees from nine countries would work with a number of other organisations in Ghana. For example, they will help to establish a Website and student record database for the Tema Technical Institute. The team will also work with a local branch of SOS Children's Village to provide a technology framework to better educate disadvantaged youngsters.

The statement said the Ghanaian initiative was part of IBM's global Corporate Service Corps (CSC) programme through which IBM deployed teams of employee-volunteers on projects around the world aimed at supporting economic and social development.

This is the sixth time that IBM CSC teams are being deployed in Ghana. To date and it is also the 100th team to be deployed by IBM globally. The statement said this milestone coincided with the celebration of IBM's Centennial this year and highlighted IBM's continuing role in transforming society, business and science around the world. The current engagement in Ghana comes on the heels of a number of previous CSC projects in Africa - a focus region for the programme. Since July 2008, IBM's Corporate Service Corps has deployed 327 staffs on 29 teams to South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt.

The Corporate Service Corps is a global IBM initiative designed to provide small businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organisations in growth markets with sophisticated business consulting and skills development to help improve local conditions and foster job creation= .. The CSC projects in West Africa are facilitated by the Washington-base= d CDC Development Solutions.