Akyem Abuakwa chiefs introduced to ICT

Kyebi (E/R), June 30, GNA- The Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, on Tuesday launched the National Digital House of Chiefs Project at Kyebi, with members of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council as the pioneering group.

The Ministry in collaboration with the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) and Third Rail Ghana, was working in partnership with the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and the District Assemblies to introduce traditional leaders to the Information Communication Technology (ICT).

The Third Rail Ghana is providing mobile state-of-the-art training facilities to areas where broadband connectivity is not available, while the NIIT is providing the workshop content and delivery of the training component.

Mr Kan-Dapaah mentioned the role of the country's traditional development including preservation and promotion of her cultural heritage, administration of traditional governance, management of stool assets including natural resources and offering leadership support in community development.

He said the government recognises the role national Information Communication Technology (ICT) policy plays to deploy the technology to rural communities for development.

Mr Kan-Dapaah who said the Kyebi workshop was the first in a series planned for all Regional Houses of Chiefs, had the objective of creating awareness of ICT among traditional leaders and to enable them employ the ICT in their traditional governance.

He explained that the project was to demonstrate to the traditional leaders how ICT, could join communities globally, explore the use and benefits of e-mail and how the application of the Internet would help the country to create wealth.

Mr Kan-Dapaah, who is also the MP for Afigya-Sekyere West, commended the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan for initiating the extension of ICT to Africa.

The East Akim District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Asihene, said the Project would make the people in the area benefit from the ICT. Mr Asihene gave the assurance that the District Assembly would provide some computers to the traditional council as its contribution to the success of the project.

The Marketing Manager of the NIIT, Mr Manoj Nazare, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that his company was prepared to continue supporting the project to make more traditional leaders benefit from it.