Remove structures that impede ICT development- Kan-Dapaah

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA- Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Communications and Technology, on Tuesday urged telecommunications experts and regulators in African to remove structures that impeded the development of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) for the harmonisation of communication among member countries.

The Minister said some of the structures, which included policy and regulations; knowledge and resources; entrepreneurship and the development of partnership were the keys to the success of ICT within Africa.

At a workshop organised by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) in conjunction with the National Communications Authority (NCA), Mr Kan-Dapaah singled out regulators to create an environment for effective deployment of ICT. Mr Kan-Dapaah said such deployment would reduce poverty and promote genuine regulatory framework to support actors of development of the telecommunication sector.

The main objective of the forum is to prepare a Regional Action Plan for 2003 and 2004 to enhance regulatory activities in Africa and provide a pivotal role in the preparation of the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland in December. It would also provide the opportunity for African Regulators to deliberate on the African inputs to the GSR, taking into account that regulators in the region are facing major challenges due to the transformation of the sector and technological development.

Mr Kan-Dapaah noted that Regulations hold the key to open the floodgates for investors, adding, "how much investment capital flows into the telecom sector will depend on the work of regulators". The Minister observed that the issue of policy and regulations had become a challenge for any privatisation exercise, saying that with the liberalisation of the industry, there was now the opportunity to synchronise efforts to attract the much needed investments to help accelerate the development in Africa.

Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed concern about the poor state of telecommunication infrastructure in most African countries, called for acquisition and attraction of needed capital to propel the continent into the Information Age.

"We recognize and accept without question the impact of the Knowledge and Information society and its catalytic role in the social and economic development of African countries.

"The capabilities of information and Communications Technology for poverty reduction, wealth creation and national prosperity, however, the bottom line in all our endeavours is how to secure the resources to enable the deployment of technology in our country", he said. Mr Mathurin Bako, Chairman of African Telecommunication Regulation Network (ATRN) emphasised the importance of new technology and effective regulations, which he said, "is becoming more relevant in meeting the objective of creating global information society."

Mr Baka whose speech was read on his behalf said the achievement of modern knowledge could only be achieved through availability of Information and Communication Technologies.