Gov’t digital inclusion agenda on course – Ursula

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Ghana’s Minister of Communications and Digitalisation has reiterated her committed with support from President Akufo-Addo – who is also the Co-Chair of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group to achieving digital inclusion for women in the country in addition to the several opportunities that it would bring to reality for the younger generation.

She said the agenda for digital transformation has been massive since the Akufo-Addo administration took over office adding that, technology plays a massive role in the transformation of countries in the 21st Century.

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful further highlighted the value of the global digital economy, stating that Ghana remains committed to the digitalization agenda in ways to create job opportunities, facilitation of ICT-based entrepreneurship and securing the cyberspace for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She made this known when she addressed participants at the 2022 Africa Telecommunication Union Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-22), which happened in Algeria on Monday, July 25, 2022.

“The Government of Ghana, under the able leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Co-Chair of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group, is pursuing the Digital Ghana Agenda for a massive transformation of Ghana’s economy through technology and broadband development.”

She added, “Ghana is focusing on improving the efficiency of service delivery with particular attention to rural and underserved communities, inclusion for women to achieve gender parity, and opportunities for the youth through the nurturing of new businesses, creation of job opportunities, facilitation of ICT-based entrepreneurship and securing our cyberspace for the realization of the SDGs. This year, Ghana has connected over 2.3 million people and will extend coverage to 6million unconnected rural populace by 2023 through our rural telephony and digital inclusion program. We have expanded our annual Girls in ICT programme from 1000 girls to 5,000 basic school girls and another 5000 in Secondary, and tertiary institutions.”

Special Invite

The Ablekuma West lawmaker also extended special invitation to African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Member States to Ghana for internship programmes, benchmarking visits and capacity building to also help advance the country’s digital innovation.

She further revealed the country’s commitment to host and support ATU activities and events in years ahead.

“Ghana virtually hosted Africa preparatory meetings for the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly 2020 (WTSA-20) and attended ATU preparatory meetings for WTDC-21 and ITSO General Assembly 2022. Ghana remains available to host and support ATU activities and events over the next four years.

“Indeed, we invite Member States for internships, benchmarking visits and capacity building on our ITU collaborated programmes on cybersecurity, quality of service, conformance and interoperability assessment, spectrum management and monitoring, digital literacy skills development, innovation incubation, and data market, among many others”

Support

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful also asked for support from Africa member countries towards the upcoming election to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council for the Africa Region.

She called on all present to support the candidature of Engineer Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko for Radio Regulations Board Region.

“Ghana is counting on the support of each African country on its candidature for re-election to the ITU Council and the election of Engineer Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko for Radio Regulations Board Region D at the ITU 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest in September-October this year”.

This happens not to be the first time she has publicly campaigned for the re-election of Ghana’s representative to the ITU council.

Speaking at the World Telecom Standardization Assembly (ITUWTSA-20) in Geneva, Switzerland in March this year, she said, “Ghana has put up its candidature to be elected to the ITU Council for the Africa Region and we seek your support in this quest at the upcoming Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest Romania. We equally seek your support for our candidate for the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) for the Africa Region, Rev. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, currently the Ag. Director of Engineering at the National Communications Authority. Ghana will continue to be a shining example to the ITU and its tenets. We appeal to you to support our candidatures for ITU Council and the RRB”.

On his part, the ITU Secretary General, Houlin Zhao pledged his unflinching support for Ghana’s candidature.

“This is the first African minister to have openly announced her campaign and I must admit, Ghana has been a splendid member state to the ITU hence I promise to campaign and vote for them” he said.