ICT experts end conference

Accra, March 5, GNA - Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) experts at the end of a three-day international conference in Accra, have stressed on ICT education as an urgent prerequisite for the development of the African continent.

They therefore called on governments to re-engineer their educational systems to provide curricula that meet international standards for quality education at local rates to enable their graduates to compete globally in the ever growing international job market.

The conference, the third international conference on ICT and Development, held on the theme: "The Challenges of ICT Development: Policy, Strategies, Equity and Access attracted well over 100 participants from 16 countries, from Africa, the Americas, Switzerland, Australia, the Great Britain and Europe.

It was organized by the International Chamber for Economic Development (InterCED)-USA, in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Technology, Information, as well as the electronic community in Ghana and the US, and some development partners. The conference, aimed at developing consensus, amongst a wide-cross section of stakeholders on ICT, economic development policies and strategies.

In a declaration titled the "Accra Declaration on Technology and Economic Growth in Africa" read by Dr Charlotte Broaden, InterCED Board Member, the experts asked that African governments prioritised technology education, and make it start from the kindergarten and the primary levels of education.

" African governments should aggressively bring to fruition the commitment to universal and free education, using both conventional and innovative ICT solutions to make the dream a reality. "African governments should focus on growing a well-developed workforce in the area of ICT, as this has become the strategic imperative for the development of the continent."

The conference called on the governments to expand the opportunities for private ownership at all levels to encourage competition that lowers prices and enhances access and opportunities for all citizens. They must also stamp out corruption and build an atmosphere of confidence that mitigates the risk of investment.

The participants urged governments and business to encourage a culture of philanthropy as well as regional approaches to ICT policies, trade, tourism and monetary policies.

They also called on international institutions, foundations, and funding agencies to give preference to indigenous organisations as a fundamental tenet of funding considerations to have direct impact on the community or the problem being targeted.

Mr Kojo Yankah, a Communications Consultant, and Founder of the Africa Institute of Journalism and Communications, said the conference had been successful.

Mr Kwaku Nsiah, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Communications and Technology said the conference had reinforced the commitment of Government to develop ICT basis for rapid economic development.

Mr Osita Aniemeka, a Lagos-base IT expert, and member of InterCED, asked the media to take an active interest in ICT issues and report extensively on ICT issues to generate public interest and discussion.