World Wide Web Foundation set permanent lab in Ghana

The World Wide Web Foundation on Friday announced the setting up of Mobile Web, Ghana’s fixed-location mobile entrepreneur laboratory.

The new laboratory would serve as consecutive training session for mobile application developers in the country, Ms Florence Toffa, Web Foundation Regional Coordinator told Ghana News Agency in Accra.

She said: "Finding and establishing this lab is a major boost for Mobile Web Ghana, as it will finally offer a proper incubation space for trainees and mentors to meet.”

Ms Toffa said, the laboratory was launched in Ghana to create a dynamic mobile Web and voice ecosystems to enable entrepreneurs to launch their own sustainable businesses.

She said, Web Lab will also enable all segments of the population to have access to new and innovative services that are useful and usable.

Ms Toffa said, mobile penetration and the demand for mobile services, value added services is growing in Ghana hence the need to secure a single home-base centre to nurture and incubate the various mobile application ideas that are generated.

She said in March 2012, Mobile Web Ghana also established fixed-location mobile application lab (MLab) centre to provide space for regular mobile entrepreneurship training programs; incubate mobile entrepreneurs, nurture projects and grow ideas.

It will also be the base for nurturing mobile innovation and creativity, host regular forums for mentors and entrepreneurs

Ms Toffa said, Mobile Web Ghana aims to be a convening force for the whole community of Ghanaian mobile enthusiasts, provide events for others in the broader community to take advantage of the space.

She said, Mobile Web Ghana is the first lab to be established by the World Wide Web Foundation’s Mobile Entrepreneurship program, which started its third training session in March 2012.

Ms Toffa, said previous training sessions have attracted a growing number of interested candidates, as well as gained the attention of a broader community of mobile application developers and investors.

Mr Max Froumentin, Web Foundation Program Manager, said the World Wide Web Foundation, established by Timothy Berners-Lee in 2009, serves as Mobile Entrepreneurship initiative.

He said it seeks to convene the rising increase in mobile phone use in the developing world and its emerging entrepreneurial communities to accelerate the transition of technology development to the mobile platform.**