Post on 25-Mar-2018
transcript
How to Successfully increase the Usage and availability of ICTs-Localizing Services and creating Opportunities
Presented by:
Kofi Attor
Administrator/CEO
Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications
CTO Conference, Abuja Nigeria
7th October, 2013.
GHANA AT GLANCE
INTERNET DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF GIFEC
WSIS TARGETS
GIFEC PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS IN RELATION TO MEETING THE WSIS/ITU TARGETS
STRATEGIES
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT/LOCAL CONTENT/PARNERSHIPS
ACHIEVEMENTS
CHALLENGES
WAY FORWARD
Has a population of 24 million
The country spans an area of
238,500 km2 (92,085 sq. mi). Water
covers 3.5% of the area
Population density of 99.9/km2
(258.8sq.mi)
Capital and Largest City is Accra
Home to the largest artificial lake in
the world-Lake Volta
First Sub Saharan African to gain independence in 1957
English is the official language though there more than 46
local dialects
Cocoa, timber, gold, diamond, bauxite and manganese are
major sources of foreign exchange
Production of oil in commercial quantities took off in last
quarter of 2010
Has a GDP per capita (PPP) of $1,500
Ghana at Glance
Internet access commenced in Ghana in the early nineties
Generally, access to homes and individuals is very limited. Most Ghanaians have access to the internet at work or through public internet cafes.
A Household Digital Divide Study conducted by GIFEC this year indicated Household penetration is 14.2%
Internet World Statistics ranks Ghana’s Internet penetration 10th in Africa behind countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, and Gambia in West Africa.
The Fund was launched in November, 2004.
However, operations of the fund started in January
2005.
The Electronic Communications Act, 2008, Act 775
provides the legal framework (mandate) for the
activities of the Fund.
The mission of the Fund is to provide financial
resources for the establishment of universal service
and access for all communities and; facilitate the
provision of access to basic telephony, internet
service, multimedia, broadband and broadcasting
services by these communities.
Contributions from operators and service providers Monies provided by parliament Monies that may accrue to the fund from investment made by the trustees of the fund Donations, grants and gifts, and any other monies that may become lawfully payable to the fund
The fund is managed by a board of trustees which
provides the strategic direction and management of
the fund.
There are two sub-committees of the Board, The
Technical and Finance /Administration tasked with
supervisory functions relating to Technical and
Finance and Administration respectively.
The board by statute is chaired by the Minister of Communications.
Other members of the Board include representatives
of the following:
1.National Communications Authority (NCA
2.Ministry of Communications.
3.One representative each from all licensed operators
4.Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee on
Communications
5.The administrator of the fund who also is the Chief Executive of the secretariat.
1. To connect all villages with ICTs and establish
community access points
2. To connect universities, colleges, secondary schools
and primary schools with ICTs
3. To connect scientific and research centres with ICTs
4. To connect public libraries, cultural centres,
Museums, post offices and national archives with
ICTs
5. To connect health centres and hospitals with ICTs
7. To connect all local and central government departments and establish websites and email addresses
8. To adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet challenges of the information society, taking into account national circumstances
9. To ensure that all of the world’s population have access to television and radio services
10. To encourage the development of content and put in place technical conditions in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages on the internet
Programme Constituents Projects
1.
Cyber laboratory
Community Information Centre (CIC)
Library Connectivity
Post Office Connectivity,
Community Initiated Projects, etc
School Connectivity(SCP)
2.
Rural Telephony and
Internet Access
Common Telecom Facility(CTF)
Rural Telephony
Rural Payphone, etc.
3.
ICT for Livelihood
E-fishing (ICT for sustainable Fishing)
Last Mile Initiative
Disability Employment,
4.
ICT Support to
Government
Institutions
Ghana News Agency
Meteorological Authority
NADMO, etc.
Security Agencies (Prison,Police, Military,
NADMO etc)
5.
Broadcasting
Radio
TV, etc.
6.
Capacity
Building
Initiatives and
Awareness
Public Education of ICT & related issues, etc.
Training for CIC Managers, etc.
Programme
Constituents Projects
Capacity Building
Local Content Development
Forging partnerships with local authorities, NGOs etc to provide ICT services
ICT Infrastructural Development
GIFEC notes that there is a direct relationship
between having ICT skills and usage. It is
therefore sponsoring the training of teachers,
local government workers, artisans etc to
acquire basic skills in ICT.
Currently, there is an ongoing project that is
training about 5000 people in ICT literacy skills
ICT FOR EDUCATION
GIFEC has supported a local developer to develop an Examinations Review and Training software deployed on computers supplied to Senior High Schools and Junior High schools under its SCP.
To improve science education particularly for girls, GIFEC has developed an e-science software for use by students
Developed a School Management Software for Training colleges, Vocational Institutes etc to facilitate e-administration of schools
SECURITY CONNECTIVITY
Supported the development of a Criminal Information System for the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Prisons service to improve security in the country
GIFEC in partnership with a local software developer is establishing a one point emergency access call centre to facilitate easy access to the police, ambulance and other emergency services.
To enhance disaster management activities, GIFEC has supported the National Disaster Management Organisation with phones, computers and internet connection at very remote communites
ICT FOR HEALTH To reduce maternal mortality among women,
GIFEC has supported the GRAMEEN FOUNDATION and the Ghana Health Service with mobile phones that have been distributed to pregnant women in rural communities. Text messages designed in the various local languages are sent to these women to alert them to go for antenatal services on schedule.
DIGITAL INCLUSION To provide access to ICTs to the blind, GIFEC has
provided specialised computers and softwares with internet connectivity to enable them benefit from ICT.
GIFEC is creating opportunities for entrepreneurship
development in ICT. Specific projects include the
following:
Partnering the Disability Council to create livelihood
opportunities for the disabled through the provision
of kiosks stock with ICT products for sale to the
general public
Partnering a local NGO, KITE to support
entrepreneurs with mini ICT centres that offer full
range services to the public.
MILITARY OFFICERS IN GIFEC
SPONSORED-ICT TRAINING
INMATES IN AN ICT CLASS IN A GHANAIAN PRISON
Security ICT Support Projects
The objective of the Rural Telephony Project is to
support telecommunication operators to extend their
services into locations of less commercial viability.
30 Rural telephony have been constructed in
deprived communities without communication
facilities in the country.
A total number of 90,000 people in the beneficiary
communities can now communicate and do business
with people in and around other communities.
School Connectivity Project – 703 schools Community Information Centers- 93 centers Common telecommunication Facility/Rural
Telephony – 70 sites ICT capacity building- 4000 personnel
trained Rural Pay phone – 3000 installed Easy Business- 20 centers Library Connectivity Project – 40 libraries and
10 mobile libraries Post office Connectivity project- 5 post
offices All these sites are equipped with at least 15 computes, ups, printer, projector, scanner and 2 air conditions
Disability Project – 10 trading booths deployed, 2
school for the blind fully equiped and blind units in 7
SHS supported
Security Connectivity Project – 16 prisons, 34 police
stations, 170 NADMO offices, 30 Military units and
schools, 8 Fire stations and 100 BNI offices
E-learning Project – 3 research institutes and School
of surgery equipped.
ICT for sustainable fishing – 18 landing sites
supported
10000 Laptops distributed to Schools
1. High cost of internet bandwidth makes internet
access a luxury
2. Poor Quality of Service(QoS) from mobile
operators
3. Limited funding
Develop more interventions that will improve the
gender access to ICT ratio
Encourage the international agencies and donors to
support GIFEC with funding to enable it undertake
more Universal Access programmes for the unserved
and underserved communities.