|
Advancement in information technology usage needed to close
poverty gap
Accra, April 24, Ghanadot/GNA – Dr.
Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Ghana’s Communications Minister, said
urgent investment in skills, training and upgrading of
information technology infrastructure were needed to reverse
the widening information gap between the North and the
South.
Speaking at the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) in
Accra on the topic: “Harnessing knowledge and technology for
development”, Dr Aggrey-Ntim said creative partnerships for
research and development were equally important in bridging
the gap.
The roundtable examined the strategies to put the current
information and communication technology boom at the service
of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
Dr. Aggrey-Ntim said government in developing countries had
an obligation to inject the requisite capital to establish
and upgrade their telecommunications networks and to enhance
the capacities of universities and training centres.
Government and private sector partnership must also be
tapped to help stimulate and support technological research
and development.
There are currently 29 Internet service providers with
nearly 1.5 million subscribers. A fibre-optic network is
being built to ensure nationwide coverage.
He touched on the “e-Ghana project”, which is placing
emphasis on helping local telecommunications businesses take
advantage of the opportunities created by public-private
partnerships.
Dr. Aggrey-Ntim stressed that knowledge creation and the
ability to translate telecommunication skills and knowledge
into benefits for society were critical in enabling
developing countries to take part in the information age.
“In order to achieve a truly knowledge-based economy,
developing countries must prioritise skills training as well
as research and human capacity-building,” he added.
Dr. Supachai Panitchpadki, Secretary-General of UNCTAD said
developing countries needed access to knowledge and
innovation, not only to improve livelihoods, but also to
enhance capacity building.
GNA
|
