IICD supported project: Support to ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4D) Process - Ghana

This programme started in 2006 and supports the development of an Information and Communication Technology-driven socio-economic development policy and implementation plan. Main goal is to aid Ghana’s developmental effort with the intent of becoming a knowledge-based information society and economy.

After conducting nation-wide consultation with representatives of government, private sector and civil society the National ICT Plan and Development Committee (NICI) has produced a Policy Framework document. This was followed by the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development Policy that received overwhelming endorsement from the National Legislature in 2004.

Following adoption, the policy document ‘ICT Implementation Strategies’ will be developed (phase 3) for the following selected programmes and initiatives:

• Ministry of Communication
• Physical infrastructure
• eAgriculture and agribusiness
• ICT and Gender
• ICT and Health
• eNational Security Law & Order

The Information and Technology age has provided opportunities for Ghana to mitigate the problems of decades-long stagnation and poor economic performance. The process to develop a national ICT policy and plan for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) is an opportunity for the Ghanaian Government to show commitment.

Read more about IICD’s Ghana Country Programme.

The primary objective of this collaboration between the National ICT Plan and Development Committee is to support the Government. It is committed to:

• Developing and implementing a number of 4-year rolling plans to implement the provisions of the policy
• Facilitating a number of consultative workshops geared at getting further stakeholder involvement in the policy process

The process is carried out in three phases:

•  Phase 1: Development of an Integrated ICT-led socio-economic development framework for Ghana (The Framework Document)
  

• Phase 2: Development of an integrated ICT-led socio-economic development policy and Strategies for Ghana (The Policy Document)
• Phase 3: Development of a policy plan.

The policy plan will be the first in a series of plans to support the development of the economic base and environment for accelerating Ghana’s development towards an information rich and knowledge based economy.

Read more about IICD’s approach towards Governance.

The Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development Process is a consultative process intended to bring on board key stakeholders of the government, private sector and civil society. This should facilitate the required ‘buy-in’ into the process as well as the ownership of the policy and its implementation process.