“We Will Not Leave Anyone Behind in the Digital Connectivity Process” – Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has assured Ghanaians that the Nana Akufo-Addo Government will not leave anyone in the digital connectivity process. She said this during a ceremony to commission three ICT laboratories equipped by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) in the Assin Central Municipality.
In her address, she recognized the importance of education and its relationship with national development and ultimately poverty alleviation, while emphasizing the need to facilitate learning through ICTs.
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said that the government of Ghana is committed to providing ICT infrastructure which responds timeously to the challenges and evolutions of modern science and technology, hence the equipping of ICT laboratories across the country.
“The objective of this project is to facilitate teaching, learning and research and ensure that students fully benefit from our current virtual world where some examinations are conducted online”, she indicated.
She commissioned three ICT laboratories within the Municipality namely: Assinman Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Atonsu MA Basic School and the Obiri Yeboah Senior High School. She also commissioned the regional office of GIFEC, located within the Municipality.
Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, Administrator of GIFEC, acknowledged strides made to extend digital connectivity to the remotest parts of the country, recounting the enormous contribution of his predecessors, especially Hon. Abraham Kofi Asante, the just retired Administrator of GIFEC.
He iterated the need to forge strategic partnerships for efficient implementation of projects, stating that “For us, an inclusive society means that no one is left behind in government’s digitalisation agenda. For this purpose, we are partnering major institutions and stakeholders within the ICT Ecosystem to expand on our initiatives in a more efficient and effective manner.”
Mr. Sefah urged students to fully utilize the ICT facilities and training programmes available in basic and secondary schools, to acquire new skills and broaden their horizon, highlighting especially, the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) initiative.
He said that the DTC Project is designed to develop digital skills, mainly at the basic and intermediate levels particularly in underserved communities, and features courses like Introduction to Cyber security, Cyber Security Essentials, Introduction to IoT, Python, C++ and Entrepreneurship, adding that interested persons can contact nearby CICs to register for free.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Nicholas Fiifi Baako described the ICT Center as a privilege as the school expands each year. “I believe that in few years to come, there will be more support from government and private organisations to make the midwifery college one of the best,” he added, thanking GIFEC for their support in ICT education in the Municipality.
Mrs. Ophelia Nkrumah, the Principal of the Institution expressed her appreciation to the Ministry and GIFEC for equipping their ICT laboratory.
She however mentioned network connectivity as the main challenge, adding that the staff and students of the Institution is the most affected. “Our poor network connectivity makes official work difficult. I plead with GIFEC to augment the library with more accessories to help establish e-library which will help improve students’ academic performance.
She further appealed for more laptops and tablets to facilitate teaching and learning. Mrs. Nkrumah gave the assurance that the equipment would be put to good use to serve the purpose of which they were donated.
In attendance were the Chief Director for the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), Mrs. Magdalene Apenteng; Deputy Administrator for GIFEC, Ms Eva Andoh Opoku; Director for Operations, GIFEC, Zakaria Osman Yahaya; Director for Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Faisal Isahaku Gbanjili; District Chief Executive for Assin North, Mr. Charles Ohene Andoh; Municipal Director for Education Service, Ms. Mercy Akua Lisa, Presiding Member for Assin Fosu Municipal Assembly, Hon. Andrews Kweku Addo; staff and students of Obiri Yeboah Secondary School; Staff and Students of Assinman Nursing and midwifery Training; Staff of the Municipal Assembly; Staff of GIFEC and MoCD.
