Ursula commissions four ICT labs in Assin

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has on Monday, 23rd of August 2021 commissioned four ultra-modern ICT Laboratory centres in the Assin North, Assin South and the Assin Central Municipality.

The centres, which are located at Assin Fosu District Assembly, Assinman nursing and midwifery training college, Atonsu MA Basic school and the Obiri Yeboah Secondary School in the Assin Central Municipality in the Central Region, is a project under the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication, (GIFEC) and an initiative to promote digital access for all citizens in the country.

It also forms part of the broader vision of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to intensify ICT education in the country as well as encourage the youth to participate in the technology world.

In a presentation, the Minister indicated that the ICT centres are meant to train and make ICT skills and techniques common to everyone, leaving no one behind.

The Minister re-affirmed the determination of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa-Addo that, no Ghanaian would be left behind as Ghana leapfrogs the development ladder through digitisation and innovation.

She indicated that the ICT centres will help residents transact business through online mediums whiles providing the opportunity and facility for residents to help bridge the digital gap.

“The use of ICT has become much more important particularly during this COVID-19 era where social distancing had become the new normal and it is safer for both children and adults to conduct their social, academic and work lives online”, she said.

The Administrator for GIFEC, Mr Prince Ofosu Sefa was full of praise to the immediate past Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hon. Kofi Asante, who just retired from the agency.

He said ICT had been the main catalyst for development in most countries in recent years, adding that there was the need for people to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a digital economy.

Mr. Ofosu Sefa revealed that so far over 182,000 has benefited from the coding for kids programme. The programme helps children learn programming with some fun.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Nicholas Fiifi Baako described the ICT centre as a privilege for the expansion of the school each year.

“I believe that in few years to come, there will be more support from government and private organisations to make the midwifery college one of the best,” he added.

He expressed gratitude to GIFEC for their support in ICT education in the Assin Municipality.

Ms. Ophelia Nkrumah, the Principal of the Midwifery Training College did not hide her excitement over the establishment of the ICT centre for the school. She however mentioned network connectivity as the main challenge, adding, the staff and students of the Institution is the most affected.

“Our poor network connectivity makes official work difficult. I plead with GIFEC to augment the library with more accessories to help establish e-library which will help improve students’ academic performance.

She further appealed for more laptops and iPad to facilitate teaching and learning. Ms Nkrumah gave the assurance that the equipment would be put to good use to serve the purpose of which they were donated.

In attendance were the Chief Director for the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), Mrs Magdalene Apenteng; Deputy Administrator for GIFEC, Ms Eva Andoh Opoku; Director for Operations, GIFEC, Zakaria Osman Yahaya; District Chief Executive for Assin North, Mr Charles Ohene Andoh; Municipal Director for Education Service, Ms Mercy Akua Lisa, Presiding Member for Assin Fosu Municipal Assembly, Hon. Andrews Kweku Addo; Director for Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Faisal Isahaku Gbanjili; staff and students of Obiri Yeboah Secondary School; Staff and Students of Assinman Nursing and midwifery Training; Staff of the Municipal Assembly; Staff of MoCD and Staff of GIFEC.