Projects

Market Information Service Facility and Training — by Web editor — last modified 2008-01-18 15:03

Through its market information service facility and training activities, Market Access Promotion Network (Mapronet) supports its affiliated small and medium sized cooperatives. The network will develop a web-based market information system that provides regular overviews of relevant market information needed by producer groups, buyers, traders and other relevant stakeholders to support their sustainable livelihoods. During the pilot phase, this system will be implemented with three organisations: two facilitating network members of Mapronet: Altranet (Volta region) and Trade Aid Integrated (Tamale) together with the Mapronet headquater in Tamale.

ICT Capacity Development Centre to enhance the national portal at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation (MINO) — by Web editor — last modified 2008-01-24 10:48

This project is owned and implemented by the Information Services Department (ISD) at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation (MINO). The Information Services Department aims to generate awareness about government policies, programs and activities using a combination of visual, audio, digital, print and face-to-face interaction. It is especially responsible for disseminating development information among the Ghanaian public and for informing the government about the public’s reaction. In addition, it promotes the country’s international marketing agenda, provides public relations support to government ministries, departments, agencies and Ghana’s missions abroad, and oversees the www.ghana.gov.gh portal.

ICT Policy for the Agriculture sector — by Web editor — last modified 2007-11-12 12:52

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been tasked with the development of a strategy and relevant programmes the sector for implementing the relevant provisions of the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4D Policy). Towards achieving this, and through on-going discussion with the Ministry of Communications, a technical sub-committee has been installed. The work of the sub-committee is guided by the Terms of Reference as given by the Ministry of Communications.

Eastern Corridor Agro-Market Information Centre (ECAMIC) — by admin — last modified 2008-01-22 16:40

The ECAMIC project focuses on supporting farmers in the Eastern Corridor through forming cooperative farmer groups. The Social Enterprise Foundation of West Africa (SEND) promotes the cultivation of soy beans in the northeast of Ghana through the ECAMIC project in order to contribute to improving the livelihood of more than 2000 farming families in the Eastern Corridor of Northern Ghana. The potential market for soya beans and their high nutritional value offer potential to enhance income of farmers as well as improve food security.

Global Teenager Ghana — by admin — last modified 2005-07-28 11:04

The Global Teenager Project Ghana was launched in September 1999 with only four schools. Since then, the collaboration has extended to involve over fourteen schools and five hundred students. The Global Teenager Project focuses on two-way communication and learning between students in different countries. The primary activities are the biannual “Learning Circles”.

Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) — by admin — last modified 2005-08-16 13:00

GAINS is a Coordinating Centre, based at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI) in Accra. This Centre acts as the referral centre for information requests on agriculture and allied disciplines and also coordinates activities of fifteen libraries and information centres of agriculture-related research institutes and faculties of agriculture of the universities in Ghana with the objective of providing effective and efficient information delivery to users. This project aims to improve the information and advice provided to the beneficiaries by empowering the end-users to access, share, and publish agricultural research information.

Ghana Dot Gov - Researching the potential for eGovernment services in Ghana — by admin — last modified 2005-02-22 14:11

Co-financed with the Ghana Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs, this research project is examining and testing concrete eGovernment systems and applications in Ghana. It will result in a demonstration portal for the Ministry, applications and content research in Akuapem South District, and a framework for further actions.

Environment Information Network — by admin — last modified 2005-02-09 12:22

Ghana has a long history of good scientific research, but over the years library and information services have deteriorated. As a result, much valuable information is difficult or impossible to find. Furthermore, there are limitations to the ways in which information can presently be packaged and disseminated to the targeted users. An improved environmental network and information system will make information gathering faster and also enhance capacity for collection, storage, processing and dissemination. It will facilitate easy and faster retrieval of information and provides the ability to repackage information in the desired format tailored to user needs. Beneficiaries of the system include decision-makers, researchers, students, private companies and the general public.

E-Commerce for Non-Traditional Exports — by admin — last modified 2005-03-09 14:05

Through the MOFA, the Ghanaian Government has made concerted efforts to promote the production of non-traditional export product. In support of this effort, the MOFA has been very active in wooing foreign investors to invest in the production of non-traditional export products. Consequently, Ghana has recently experienced a tremendous growth in the production of non-traditional export products, particularly those agriculture-related. Nevertheless, the impact of increased production has not achieved the greatest possible impact on the Ghanaian economy. Ghanaian producers and exporters of non-traditional goods depend heavily on the promotion of their products in international markets, and therefore, on accurate information about product prices and demand levels. The lack of efficient and effective channels to transfer such information between the Ghanaian non-traditional exporter/producer and the foreign importer in the global market has dampened the potential economic impact of the MOFA initiative. Thus, accurate price and demand information is currently inaccessible. Additionally, the opportunities to promote Ghanaian trade are limited and the process is slow and costly given the reliance on telephone and fax lines. The E-Commerce Project aims to overcome these barriers by enabling Ghanaian non-traditional producers and exporters to effectively promote their products in the global market. Specifically, the Project expects to: Increase the competitiveness and market position of Ghanaian farmers and exporters by enabling them to approach and to respond more effectively to the demands of the market via faster and cheaper contacts.

ICT Policy for the Health Sector — by admin — last modified 2006-08-03 14:15

A general ICT policy strategy and programme for the Health Sector in Ghana has not yet been developed. In the National Health policy papers development by the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Health, ICT is addressed in a fractional way. Several specific proposals have been presented and the different stakeholders in the Health Sector have initiated a small number of ICT projects. Some of the initiatives have been successful in addressing some of the information and communication problems that the Health Sector is facing. Yet, it has resulted in a sub-optimal allocation of scarce human and financial resources and incompatible systems. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health has undertaken Sector ICT Roundtable workshop on Health Care Provision in Ghana in October 1999, in partnership with IICD and ISOG. The workshop resulted in a series of policy recommendations and identified priority areas in which ICT is expected to be most effective in supporting health care provision in Ghana. A first priority was given to the development of an ICT policy strategy plan.

National Information Clearing House (NICH) — by admin — last modified 2006-08-03 16:38

Access to accurate and timely information is a critical prerequisite for national development. Policy-makers, planners, researchers, investors and the general public depend on reliable information for planning and decision-making. Lacking access and co-ordination of the Ghana's information flows is presenting an important bottleneck to effective and transparent policy formulation and implementation and thereby, good governance. Currently, in Ghana, a number of institutions and companies are developing electronic systems that cater to the varied information needs of such user groups. Among such institutions, however, there is very limited exchange of information and in terms of users, there is limited access. An example is the development of many databases at different government agencies in the absence of a coordinated system for information flows. The Ghanaian Ministry of Communications (MOC) has the mission to develop policies that will help to integrate communication technologies and public information systems.

Center for Information and Communication Technology (CICT) — by admin — last modified 2006-08-03 15:07

Over the years, an increasing number of companies, organisations and institutions in Ghana have become increasingly aware of the possibility of using modern ICTs to improve efficiency and effectiveness of their activities. This heightened interest is attributable to many internationally-sponsored and Ghanaian initiatives such as the Leyland initiative (internet infrastructure and promotion); UNDP's SNDP (ICT as a tool for sustainable development); Ghana's Structural Adjustment Programme and communication's sector deregulation; and Ghana's Vision 2020. A 1998 study carried out by the Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), revealed that there has been a significant increase in demand in ICT professionals without a commensurate increase in supply. This study also noted that most ICT facilities are developed, installed and maintained by foreign experts and/or computer firms. This gap between training and employment is not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of the skills required to fill the emerging positions in the job market. The country's universities and polytechnics are unable to address this problem. Therefore, in July 1998, IICD together with the ISOG and Ministry of Communication, held an IICD ICT Roundtable to identify economic priority sectors and to determine how to diffuse ICT into these sectors in a way that will contribute to realising the objectives of the above-mentioned initiatives. Out of the Roundtable emerged the understanding that an institution to provide training on emerging ICTs is required to bridge the existing gap between training and employment in Ghana and the West African sub-region. The CICT is geared toward building local ICT capacity; thereby halting the increasing dependency on foreign experts to service ICT facilities. The Project expects to enhance the effective and efficient utilisation of the facilities, therefore increasing productivity and contributing to the Ghanaian economy. The CICT will focus on technical training in order to deliver much-needed certified engineers, programmers and software developers.