The Government of Ghana is now in real earnest in its programme for putting the nation on the Information Super-Highway, and it has made known its pre-occupation with ICT development as a means for providing a foundation for an Information and Knowledge-based Society
The Minister of Communications, Prof Mike Ocquaye, who is spearheading the government's moves, says already considerable headway has been made in his Ministry's objective of creating the enabling environment for ICT business and growth in Ghana.
With the potential of ICT for development in mind, the government initiated the ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) in 2002 and took an active part in the Geneva and Tunis phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The ICT4AD process has produced the ICT4AD Policy Statement, approved by Parliament in 2003 and now integrated into Ghana's overall development blueprint - the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II).
The policy defines Ghana's ICT-driven development agenda and is the nation's definitive statement on how it plans to address the challenges of the socio-economic implications of the digital divide. It has since implemented a number of major ICT programmes, initiatives and projects in e-education, e-government, community-based ICT programmes and nation-wide ICT infrastructure, including a national fibre backbone initiative.
Among these are the development of policy blueprints for ICT and telecommunications that meet global standards; facilitating sectoral ICT policies for all Ministries and Regional Consultative Councils; introducing a transparent pro-business policy and regulatory framework to grow the telecommunication sector, and placing four draft bills on e-legislation before Cabinet for consideration and approval.
There has been considerable expansion and growth in ICT infrastructure development, covering all 10 regions, leading to a tele-density of over 2,000 per cent in six years. The total number of telephone subscribers rose from 218,000 at the end of 2000, to 5,428,000 at the end of 2006, representing a tele-density of 27.2%.
The government has been promoting further privatisation of the telecommunications industry and is continuing the processes for privatising Ghana Telecom and Westel during 2007.
In 2006 the Ministry of Communications commenced a project to extend ICT access to all corners of the country, particularly to the rural areas. This way, says Minister Ocquaye, Ghana would, in deed, be pushing forward its policy of creating an all-inclusive and knowledge-based society. A large number of ICT connectivity solutions have been installed, encouraging individuals and the private sector to make the necessary ICT connections, says Prof. Ocquaye.
