Infotech 2002 Launched

The 6th Ghana Information and Technology Fair (INFOTECH), which is expected to display the latest Hi-Tech and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment, was launched yesterday in Accra. The fair is scheduled for 23-29th October this year and is under the theme, "Digital Opportunities for the Ghanaian."

Launching the fair, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong in a speech read for him said Ghana needs to take advantage of the fair to woo investors into the ICT sector in order to increase exportation of IT products to the neighbouring countries.

"The accomplishments of some companies engaged in the exportation of ICT products to our neighbouring countries have revealed the intense need to build the requisite infrastructure to support the progress of the ICT industry."

He said the fair which is also for IT practitioners to brainstorm on national issues would be an opportunity to demonstrate how technology could be put to create wealth and empower Ghanaians irrespective of their location within the country.

Mr. Owusu-Adjapong said Infotech demonstrates the country's potential to emerge as an ICT hub within the sub-region and beyond. He said if sufficient infrastructure is deployed in the country to improve upon access to ICT services, very soon majority of the people would be abreast with time.

He said because of the numerous opportunities ICT provides, the government would continue to develop and upgrade the basic infrastructure and provide an enabling environment for private sector participation.

He asked hardware manufacturers in the country to build high standard products and to ensure a competitive pricing policy to encourage government to equally evolve a supportive procurement policy that provides a ready market for the locally manufactured materials.

"On the part of software developers, the challenge is for them to get properly organised to enable the Ministry identify the areas they will require support and also to provide appropriate bench-marking information that will permit local and internationally marketable software production."

The Chief Executive of Ghana Trade Fair Company Ltd. (GTFC), Ms. Esther Ofori encouraged prospective exhibitors at the show to help it boost the ICT industry in the country.

She said: "We are likely to have experience of other people and countries to learn from and we need not go through the rudiments of what they went through and repeat their mistakes."

Ms. Ofori said since reform programmes have brought about significant development in the telecom sector Ghana is therefore on the brink of accelerated development of the telecom sector through the show.