Smart workplace platform benefitting public sector agencies – Ursula

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says about 350 public sector agencies are currently using the Smart Workplace Platform.

The Smart Workplace is a virtual workplace platform which provides document management, correspondent management, email services, remote working capabilities connected to themes.

“I do not know how the public services would have worked during the lockdown without the smart workplace. It is a very helpful tool that helped us during the pandemic”.

She was speaking at the meeting with the Gambian delegation on ICT for development study tour at the Ministry.

Touching on the subject of international cooperation and collaboration, the lawmaker extolled the support of the Indian Government to the ICT sector through the Ghana-Indian Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT and encouraged the delegation to have discussions with the Indian Government and other international bodies that have supported Ghana’s progress in this sector.

She mentioned the Council of Europe as one of such organisations that has supported the development of Ghana’s National Cyber Security Centre.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful also indicated that the Norwegian government is working with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on the Digital Transformation Centres Project and Ghana is one of the beneficiaries.

“The project is training 14,000 people in the rural communities at the various Community ICT Centres. It is particularly for women who have had no ICT training at all. The training will focus on e-marketing, basic computer literacy skills and how to use internet for their petty trading, farming and other activities.

“Government has been implementing the Girl in ICT with the able support of GIFEC, NCA, KACE and the various Regional Coordinating Councils. MTN has also made a generous donation of GHc 10million to support this initiative for the next 3years. This is a major support from corporate Ghana” she added.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful was hopeful that the team will be fully equipped after the visit to the various agencies under the Ministry.

According to the Gambian Minister, “the decision to choose Ghana is motivated by the impressive track record of ICT program implementation you have attained over the years and the excellent bilateral ties we share”.

At the end of their visit, the team hoped to be empowered to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the Gambia through the adoption and implementation of innovation friendly policies and strategies; promote and foster digital entrepreneurship in the Gambia through government led innovation ventures; to enhance the ICT policy and regulatory environment and to ensure increased utilization of ICT infrastructure and improved access to ICT services.

The visit which was in line with the realisation of the Gambia’s ICT for Development Agenda was led by the Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, H.E. Ebrima Sillah.

The members of the team are Mr. Yusupha Jobe, Director General, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; Mrs. Amie Njie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, and ICT Infrastructure; Mr Assan LS. Jammeh, Senior Planner, Ministry of Information, and ICT Infrastructure.

The rest are Mr. Lamin Tunkara, Deputy Managing Director, the Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited; Mr Bakary Krubally, Director of Loans, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Malang A. Bass, DPS Technical, Ministry of Information and ICT Infrastructure; Mr. Amadou Nyang, Director ICT, Ministry of Information, and ICT Infrastructure.