Ghana Launches Locally Created Software Programmes

Ghana's first-ever locally produced software programmes "Sanitizer Series," was Friday launched in Accra, with Information Technology (IT) experts lauding it as a landmark achievement.

E-Sopht Technologies Ltd - a leading Ghanaian company in software solution - produced the product, which can be accessed on the Internet platform.

The products consist of a range of software solutions to assist government agencies, the private and banking sectors and individuals in computing and controlling tax evasion, and accessing banking information among other facilities.

Some of the products are the VATNET for value added tax computation, TAXWEB to control tax evasion, e-Gold, for bank transfer management system, e-Fund for electronic fund management system and iFex, for the electronic management of foreign exchange.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology who launched the products, described their inception as a step towards bridging the digital divide between the technologically rich and poor.

"It is unfortunate that our continent is found to be technologically poor largely due to factors among which is the major issue of lack of commitment on the part of most governments," Fobih noted.

He said governments fail to invest and promote the widespread use of science and technology at different levels in national development.

The minister affirmed that Ghana's national science and technology policy recognises information and communication technology as one of the sectors, which will need to be addressed to move the country forward.

He said government intends to place a very high premium on the country's information, communication and technology development.