Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - The 7th Open Access Conference 2009, which aims at promoting access to communication resources on reasonable, transparent and cost- effective basis opened on Monday, November 2, in Accra. The three-day conference being hosted by the University of Ghana (UG) and the Ghana Academic Research Network (GARNET) in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Institute of Technology is on the theme:" Harnessing the rapid growth of fibre infrastructure for socio- economic development." Delegates from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, Togo, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Canada, Rwanda, Mali, Benin, Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, Sweden, France and the US are attending the conference, which was preceded by a preliminary meeting, which focussed on Regional Research Education Networks (RRENs).

It brought together key players in West and Central African Universities and other stakeholders to brainstorm to put together the objectives of RREN.

It is expected that the meeting would also lead to the formation of the West and Central African Research Education Network. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Gideon Quarcoo, Deputy Minister of Communications, expressed the need for computer access and broadband Internet connectivity in Ghana through affordable bandwidth. "Given the ongoing downward trend world wide in reduced Information Communication Technology (ICT)-related costs, affordable bandwidth would mean increased access and usage of ICT by Ghanaians both in the education sector and the rest of the country," he said.

Mr. Quarcoo said research discipline was a vital tool for continuous learning and development.

"We must see research education networks as a vital component in Africa's ICT engine of growth."

He said in the past two years, the country had invested heavily in fibre infrastructure and had covered the length and breadth of the country, adding that there was more to be done particularly in Northern Ghana where the fibre had got to Tamale.

Mr. Quarcoo said the proposed GARNET must be provided with the needed support to enable the country build a vibrant research and education network.

Professor Goolam Mohammedbai, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, urged researchers in the educational sector to use their expertise to promote the welfare of their communities. The Open Access Conference series began in Sweden, in 2003 with the focus on regional prerequisites, communication needs, choice of technology and business model among other things. In Africa the conference was organised in Mozambique since 2005, Tanzania in 2007 and in Malawi in 2008. 3 Nov. 09