Comm. Ministry to set up ICT Council

Plans are underway for the Ministry of Communications to establish an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Council, Mr Ato Sarpong, Deputy Minister of Communications has announced.

Speaking at the third Annual General Meeting of the Information Technology Association of Ghana (ITAG), Mr Sarpong said the Council would be made up of experts in the ICT industry.

He said the Council would serve as an advisory board to the Ministry to fast track the implementation of government’s ICT agenda.

The meeting, on the theme: “Securing our Cyber World”, enabled members of ITAG to discuss key membership issues and how to secure the cyber world.

Mr Sarpong said government would continue to create the congenial atmosphere for the ICT industry to grow.

He said over the past few decades the advancement of the world has been propelled by ICT and that global institutions are mainly operating in the ICT space, saying banking and financial transactions are being done through the power of ICT.

He called on ICT professionals in the country to emulate the shining example of groups like the Ghana Bar Association and the Ghana Medical Association by coming together to form a vibrant organisation.

The Deputy Minister said for businesses to excel today, there is the need for their ICT professionals to improve their efforts.

He said for an ICT professional to excel; he/she must have a very high level of integrity, must always make the right decision and must have the ability to combine technology and business ideas.

The Deputy Minister advised ICT professionals to be selfless and mentor their subordinates; so as to leave a lasting legacy.

Mr George Attah-Boateng, the Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), said the agency’s vision is to provide leadership in the application of ICTs in the public sector, by transforming government’s administration, information dissemination and service delivery for national development.

He said the NITA would soon register all ICT companies operating in Ghana and would also license all information and technology professionals, as part of efforts to bring sanity into the industry.

Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, ITAG President, said the organization sought to create a network of ICT professionals and promote the use of information technology in Ghana and elsewhere to achieve organizational objectives and goals across businesses.

He urged ITAG members to intensify their membership drive; stating that with time they would be having a huge cadre of ICT professionals.

“Let’s build a formidable base membership body,” he said and urged them to create opportunities for all Ghanaians to enjoy the benefits offered by the advances of information technologies.

Ms Dorothy Gordon, the Director General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre for ICT, said women should be encouraged to go into ICT; saying diversity in every organisation promotes efficiency and productivity.