Technology and coding can build and sustain our economy – Kojo Graham

The Nana Addo-led administration in its vision to bring economic developments to the populace make Ghana a financial hub, has stated clearly the need to digitise our systems.

Thus, a couple such initiatives; the Digital Addressing System, the Paperless Port, Ghana Card, Tax Stamp amongst others have been rolled out this year.

It is in line with this vision that the Chairman of VASINtel, an IT oriented organisation and a licensed Value Added Service Provider, Kojo Graham, calls for the use of technology and coding to build and sustain our economy.

Awarding attendance certificates to about 19 students of the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT who had successfully completed a 3-day training in Physical Computing and Coding, he explained that the idea is to introduce digital curriculum into the mainstream curriculum.

Coding is basically converting the words of a message into a code so as to convey meaning. Coding is what makes it possible to create computer software, apps, Operating System (OS), websites.

Whereas, physical computing is connecting the software to external devices like LEDs or censors by programming them with a code. The students through the guidance of their tutors used the Raspberry Pi which is a single board computer and tiny in size. And at the end, the students developed ideas like the "motion sensor" which is connected to the Raspberry Pi that detects movement in room. It then sends a signal to turn a camera on for picture taking.

Mr. Kojo Graham, in commending the students mentioned that through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) they seek to commercialised the noble ideas of the students. " It's a pioneering experience for both students and sponsors….. hence VASINtel as a PPP will create platforms and give them exposure to develop their talents. And that their ideas can be commercialised in different ways"

The tutors, Mr. Eric London and Shelly Thompson who are Co-Chairs of Stepping Stone Network explained that the students could use their work as basis and develop themselves into bigger assets.

Mr. Eric London pointed out that they at Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT intend to bring physical computing and coding into mainstream curriculum.

Ms Shelly Thompson who was the main architect, remarked that the motion sensors developed can be used for alarms in our homes and offices and connect them to our cellular phones.

The students also expressed their delight over their innovations and called for the state and institutions to make use of their projects.