Second-cycle institutions to be hooked on to internet by 2012

Saltpond (C/R), May 3, GNA - All second-cycle educational institutions in the country would be hooked on to the internet by 2012. They would also be provided with Information Communication and Technology (ICT) facilities to enhance teaching and learning. Mr Kofi Attoh, Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), gave the hint when he led a delegation from Uganda on a visit to the Community Information Centre (CIC) at Saltpond at the weekend.

The four-member visiting team was in Ghana to study the CIC concept for replication in Uganda.

The CIC is a community centre equipped with communication technology facilities to enhance easy accessibility to information and also enable people to acquire information and communication technology (ICT) skills.

Mr Attoh, who was formerly Member of Parliament for Ho Central, said 120 CICs had been built throughout the country but only 78 had been equipped.

He said 20 of the centres had been selected for upgrading to a model CIC status before the end of 2010.

"The model CICs would be provided with additional 20 Computers, one Server, 21 Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS,) Internet, Wide Area Network, Local Area Network, Projectors and Air-conditioners. Mr Attoh appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to add value to CICs to serve as a revenue generation facility for the Assemblies.

He said additional computers would be bought to complement the 10 donated to the Centres by GIFEC so that people could go and learn ICT for a fee. Printers and photocopiers could also be added to serve the people for a fee.

Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, Municipal Chief Executive, who led the team on the inspection said an ICT Club had been formed in the Municipality to study the subject, adding that patronage was high.

He said the Assembly had installed 30 more computers at the centre to meet the high demand for ICT services.

Mr Hayfron mentioned regular power outages as the major challenge to the centre and appealed to GIFEC to provide them with a stand-by generator, a projector, laptops, colour printer and colour photo copier to enable the centre to generate its own funds to support is activities.