ICT Sector Leadership in Africa: A Guru’s Point Of View

MR. CRAIG YEATMAN

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

A Ghanaian proverb reminds us: “Wisdom is like the trunk of a baobab tree – no one person’s arms can embrace it and overlap it.”

It is the considered opinion of this author that the depth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is such that no IT expert can pretend to possess all knowledge in every department of the technology in such a fashion that when he or she speaks, all must be silent. No! Rather, the best an IT expert can do to advance the course of the industry is to share his or her views, knowledge and experiences with other gurus and neophytes alike in the sector.

Mr. Craig Yeatman is a leadership consultant and Chief Executive of WorldsView, a consulting and product development house based in South Africa. Through the magic of ICT, he granted an online interview to this Blogger right in Accra. Ghana. This article contains excerpts of the interview which, I feel are thought provoking enough to be shared with other African bloggers, leaders of the ICT sector on the continent, the youth and cherished readers of blogs and other related media – both locally and globally.

First, Mr. Yeatman was challenged to tell readers how long he had been handling leadership issues in Africa, with particular focus on the ICT sector on the continent. Hear him: “WorldsView Consulting has been working in the arena of management and leadership development in Africa since 1994.” He speaks on, “Post 2004, our emphasis focused even more tightly on partnering with organisations on transformational change, and developing deep and sustainable leadership competencies in organisations. We have no particular emphasis on any sector of the market – as the leadership issues are, by and large, generic ones,” he explained.

Throwing more light on what his firm does specifically, he expatiates: “Our model is to engage directly in consulting interventions using a small team of specialists. We then have a programmes development team that captures the intellectual Property from those interventions, blends it with the experiences of a wide variety of sources using African traditions as the ‘cooking pot’, and global experiences as the ingredients. He went on, “The outcome is the production of programmes that other people can be taught to deliver – thus democratising what is always old wisdom, but what suffers from being “owned” by specialists locked within educational and consulting institutions.”

Mr. Yeatman disclosed that their first programme was launched in 2006 after almost three years of development, was what was known as “the Nine Conversations in Leadership – a long-term leadership development programme that works with groups to drive leadership competencies at organizational, team and individual levels.” According to him, during 2007, some two hundred experienced the programme, and 82 people had so far been trained to deliver the programme. “As a result, the bookings for 2008 now exceed 1,500 people. We are due to release two further programmes within the next twelve months, as well as an update to the Nine Conversations in Leadership,” the WorldsView Chief Executive disclosed.

Second, to ascertain how far Mr. Yeatman’s brand of knowledge has reached on the continent, he was queried to cite at least five out of the 53 countries in Africa where he might have delivered lectures or talks in leadership in IT, or telecommunications in general. He went straight to the point thus:

“Our consulting interventions in the areas of leadership development and organisational change have taken place in various parts of South Africa, as well as in Senegal, Cameroon and Kenya.” He elaborates, “We have trained people to deliver the Nine Conversations in Leadership from Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Malawi (as well as from America, the United Kingdom and the Middle East).

Furthermore, he pointed out that through one of their companies (WorldsView Technologies) they had been engaged in developing a network of businesses across Africa. He then referred this interviewer to see a website www.worldsview.co.za for a complete list of the countries in which they had partners in the WorldsView Technologies stable.

What this author finds very progressive is the revelation that the WorldsView Consulting is seeking agency partners not only in Africa but across the world. This open invitation even goes with somewhat offers to the effect that, “These partners will take our programmes and add them to whatever portfolio of interventions they already carry.” It added, “To date, we have had some interest from Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia, but have not yet reached partnership agreements. Our team regularly speak at South African conferences and deliver University classes at MBA level,” it concluded.

Bearing in mind the reality that the majority of Africans, especially in the Sub-Sahara region, are yet to enjoy the fruits of ICT, Mr. Yeatman was asked to pinpoint which areas (rural or urban) on the continent which have been the focus of his leadership messages. He responded frankly that their focus was on organisational leadership, in the sense that they partner with formal organisations, adding that, “To date, this has included non-profit, for profit and governmental clients,” he noted.

The Consultant believes that, “organisations are a powerful force social change, and as Africa re-writes its story it will be organisations that provide the platform for the script to be written.” He states. “Organisations form the belly, or engine room of an emerging nation. Within that setting, the kinds of leadership that emerge at a micro level will aggregate to transform Africa ‘from the belly to the head,” he philosophised.

The next question put to Mr. Yeatman was whether he had any leadership message for the youth of Africa as far as IT was concerned. His response was that IT is an enabler, in the same way that a car helps people travel – IT helps people get a variety of things done. He explains that IT is not an end in itself – it is a means through which lives should be improved; adding, “Technology alone does not do that.”

The expert postulates that IT can just as easily help a community plan its own destruction through conflict and war as it can help a community to heal, grow and emerge as a part of a new African story. “The moral and spiritual choices people make are more important than the technology – and the technology should be used to expose our youth to the whole world of knowledge, choices and values that await them, he advised.

Another interesting challenge thrown to the leadership guru was to share some of his practical experiences with his peers in the industry and to indicate how IT could be deployed to solve the endemic poverty ravaging the African continent. Hear him:

“The obvious areas of deployment are the ICT sectors ability to address health and education issues. These are well documented and don’t need a “leadership person” to build on. It is possible that the less obvious and more natural deployments are the ones that might warrant more attention.” Mr. Yeatman went on, “People look for artifacts to solve problems - that has been the nature of the evolution of technology since time began.” He elaborates, “The reason for the rapid expansion of the ICT sector is that a technology has arrived that helps people to overcome challenges they experience in their daily lives – and the best, most meaningful of these are driven by the communities themselves,” he stressed.

Mr. Yeatman argues that one does need to prescribe, or pre-plan how poor communities must alleviate their poverty. In his view, such communities are already trying everything they can to alleviate their own poverty. Therefore, it is important to endeavour to provide them with the technology at the lowest possible price. He says the communities must be taught how to use the technology and ensure that connections that will allow health workers to connect to each other and to their patients in new ways are put in place for them. Furthermore, educators in deprived communities must also be connected to each other and to their students to facilitate networking through information sharing and knowledge management. He advocates that natural forces that are already at work must be allowed to take advantage of the platform the technology provides.

He points out that planning and regulation should not prescribe connections – it should make connections possible. Thereafter, people should lift their own horizons and make their own journey towards improving their lives and the lives of those around them. This, he says, can be facilitated and monitored, but cannot be prescribed. His view is that every attempt to regulate content (what may be transmitted and why) destroys more than creates, he reasoned.

Finally, the Chief Executive of WorldsView Consulting was asked to share his views on the future of ICT in Africa. Strategically, he thinks that, “ICT is still responding to the rampant demand for their services that is unfolding across Africa. At some point in each local market, that pace of challenge will settle into more mature competitive pressure if natural market forces are allowed to play out, he observed. He says to the extent that the market has been well regulated, the pace of this change will be rapid – as consumers are able to access and apply the technology as fast as it can be deployed. There is no time-lag for adoption of ICT in Africa – there is only a time-lag of deployment, the expert disclosed.

He speculates that the harder question of whether the industry will be able to move through these cycles efficiently will be answered at the local levels by the policy and regulatory responses of governments across Africa. He advises and warns at the same time that, “Attempts to increase competition in a sensible way will be rewarded. Attempts to regulate content and impose license bottlenecks will be punished by delays in deployment.” Such delays, according to the consultant, impact on the poorest people on the continent - as it is only when the market is allowed to move to maximum penetration that prices achieve lowest and most accessible points, he emphasised.

Touching on leadership quality, Mr. Yeatman says - both from the ICT sector and each of the local markets will determine the outcome. He explains that the levels to which people share a vision of “a connected” Africa over-and-above any visions of profit will drive the outcomes over the next few years. He confirms the global view that there is no doubt that the ICT sector is a money-pipeline. “With money comes power contests, and the ability of African leaders to serve their communities will be tested in this helter-skelter scramble for markets and connectivity, he concluded.

For more information on this leadership subject, please log onto www.worldsviewconsulting.com

Putting ICT To Positive Use In Africa

ICT APPLICATIONS

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath
An African proverb says, “Where there is the liver, there, too, one finds the bile.” It simply implies that good and evil move hand in hand.

During the first week of February this year, the entire Information Communication Technology (ICT) world converged in Accra, the capital city of Ghana for the Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).

That event was of such a high profile that it was opened by no less a personality than the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor and attended by various dignitaries including President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the Tunisian Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Yoshio Utsumi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and the Executive Secretary the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Yao Kofi Amoako, just to mention a few.

As for the general attendance, over 1000 delegates ranging from media practitioners to educationists right down to legal technicians, NGOs, civil society and the youth did not give way at all. But predominantly were ICT gurus with their heavy jackets and flamboyant neck ties to match. And when these ICT engineers mounted the podium, everybody wanted to outclass one another in terms of technological jargon renditions. Some of us ordinary mortals among them could not help but to gap our mouths in wonderment.

The WSIS Accra programme was just what someone described as “John the Baptist”, for “Jesus the Christ” himself will be in Tunisia in November this year. It is hoped that after Tunisia, African ICT gurus will minimize their talking strategies and maximize their efforts towards the implementation of decisions that will help reduce if not eradicate poverty on the African continent through technologies.

Anyway, one session of the Accra WSIS which this author found very crucial from a layman’s point of view was the Workshop on Internet Governance. My imagination was tickled when my eyes inadvertently fell on the topic, Internet Governance. It was not surprising at all that this was one topic that generated heated debate among the gurus at the conference.

One particular bone of contention was who should have the authority over the management of the domain name across Africa. Consequently, a 22-man working group of experts was set up to convene in August (possibly in Nigeria) to resolve the dispute among feuding ICT sector groups. This strategy was indicative of the importance of Internet domain name, which Africa cannot afford to toil with if the continent is to move with times and occupy its right place in the scheme of global information infrastructure so as to be part of the electronic revolution.

It may be of interest to the reader to know that some of the issues raised under this topic included, Internet Resource Management and Technical Coordination; Public Polity Issues and Barriers to Internet Access; Ensuring Effective Public and Stakeholders Participation and above all INTERNET GOVERNANCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF E-COMMERCE. I have placed emphasis on this topic because , even as a layman ,it has come to my attention that some African ICT experts who think they are smart are abusing or misusing the tool of ICT for negative purpose for their own selfish interest and to the detriment of the whole continent of Africa .

I was shocked when on Monday 21^st February 2005 an ICT expert who is a lecturer at one of the topmost technology universities in America sent me an e-mail message and asked me whether I knew that Ghana had been banned from internet shopping because of the extremely high credit card fraud originating from Ghana?

According to this expert, for more than four years he had predicted that this ban would one day come but some people in the industry thought he was “crazy”. In fact, this ICT tutor warned that if care was not taken Ghana stood a risk of being taken off from the entire web if nothing was done to ensure secure internet connectivity and to trace an individual on the web.

I was alarmed by this revelation. And I wondered whether Ghanaian ICT gurus knew of this problem. If yes, what advice did they give to the Ghana Government? African ICT gurus must be more creative and proactive. It is their duty to advise African governments as to what to do and how. African governments, too, must stop pussy-footing on matters of science and technology on the continent.

At the Accra WSIS conference, Africans did not hesitate to lament about the continent’s lost centuries of Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Age. They did, however, console themselves of the fact that a whole century of knowledge Economy brought about by the Information Communication Technology lies ahead of them and vow never to stand and stare.

But what will be the future of ICT in Africa if some of the so-called experts are already using the technology for fraudulent deals instead of developing user friendly programmes for the benefit of the rural poor? It is also a common knowledge that, for a very long time, African youth who patronise the services of Cybercafés devote their time browsing the Internet for negative sites such as pornographic scenes instead of e-libraries for online learning.

As the above-quoted proverb indicates, every good thing has its opposite side and ICT is no exception. Nevertheless, African ICT gurus must endeavour to put the technologies to constructive application for the advancement of the Continent.

NB: This article was written in 2005

The Ghanaian Media and the Future of Ghana

GHANAIAN NEWSPAPER
By Mawutodzi K. Abissath
Have you realized the wisdom of African ancestors is beyond compare? This is reflected in their evergreen proverbs which modern scholars are wont to quote and unquote. Listen to this Ghanaian one: “If you cut your own tongue and chew it up, you‘ve not eaten any meat”. This is lucid, isn’t it?

One may be tempted to ask: “Which school did our ancestors attend to acquire such insightful knowledge and wisdom?” And are educated modern Africans creating new proverbs for posterity to quote? I leave the answers to the meditation of the reader. But I will postulate that, if the Ghanaian media set a negative agenda for Ghanaians to use for self-destruction, there will be no Ghana to build as a nation. I will explain presently.

Records show that media work, or journalism in Ghana started in 1822 in Cape Coast. That was when General Sir Charles McCarthy, the first colonial Governor of the then Gold Coast landed in Cape Coast on 27th March that year and within a few days launched an official paper, called the Royal Gold Coast Gazette.(Those who have value for historical facts can read the rest of this story in a book title : A Summary History of the GHANA PRESS, written by Mr. K.A.B. Jonses-Quartey, one time of the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, Legon, Published by the Information Service Department in 1974.)

Based on the preceding fact, therefore, the Ghanaian media, born in 1822 up to today 2005, over 200 years of existence, cannot be described as a neophyte or amateur. And the contribution of the media in Ghana to freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of association and the entire freedoms one can think of including, the fight for self-rule, culminating into independence in 1957, cannot be quantified in real terms.

As a matter of fact, some of the experiences the Ghanaian media went through after independence were even more traumatic than during the colonial era. At some stage of military and civilian rules, for instance, the Ghanaian media operated under some of the most abhorrent laws under the sun. One of such Laws was the ‘late’ Criminal Libel law, which kicked the bucket in 2001, and the obituary of which we are celebrating today with fanfare.

In fact at some points in the media history of this country, media practitioners were treated like common criminals. Every small human error they committed, or were suspected to have committed, even without proof in competent court of law, they were bundled and dumped into jail like accursed armed robbers.

This writer has had his own share of that intolerance and absolute display of misplaced power of authority in May 1999.That was even during a civilian rule, so he knows what he is talking about. It was sad in deed! Such a situation did not allow cross fertilization of ideas. It did not consensus for nation building. That is not how other nations are moving from the ground into the orbit and back with smiles.

Having said all that, it is prudent to sound a note of caution to the Ghanaian media, too. Remember this African proverb which admonishes that, “If you cry for your chicken, you must cry for the hawk, too.” To be frank and blunt, the way some Ghanaian media practitioners are operating today is nothing to write home about at all as far as professionalism goes.

Observers are worried that even though the Ghanaian media are doing tremendous work for the growth of democracy and good governance in the country, some of their actions tend to be causing more harm than good to the image of Ghana, especially on the Internet. It appears some media practitioners take delight in fishing out only negative things to project to the world whilst turning a blind eye to some of the good things the nation is accruing, no matter how modest they may be. One of the consequences of such negativity is the recent heavy fines being imposed on some media houses by the courts in the country. This is very unfortunate. If care is not taken the media may drive the ship of state straight into ditch. The fact is whilst some practitioners are making conscious efforts others have thrown the ethics of the profession to swines.

In April 1994, the media in Rwanda were reported to have been the initiators of that nation’s genocide. Out come, over half a million souls perished in a twinkle of an eye. We in Ghana should not pretend to be angels. We are human beings, and as such, we are treading in the forest of errors. When our fellow human beings commit errors, we must have the courage to correct them and tolerate them. But it is important for the offenders, also to be humble enough to admit their shortcomings and apologize for them. When that is done we must move ahead with our development strategies as a nation. After all perfection is not attained in one incarnation. We must be prepared to agree to disagree as a people.

It has been observed that for few years now, the nation has been moving from the culture of silence to the culture of negativity. And it is unfortunate that it is the media that seem to be setting this agenda and the entire society is being led into a bottomless pit of negative thinking, negative talking and negative actions. The situation has not been helped by the mushrooming of Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations here and there.

It is indisputable that radio stations in Ghana are making a great deal of impact on the development of the nation in terms of dissemination of information to citizens to know what is happening and how they can contribute their views and ideas to issues of national interest. The impact is even more enormous when the platform is created for listeners to express themselves in their own language. It has been a wonderful experience with the phone-in-programmes.

But, this is exactly where the worse problem of negative is originating from. When a radio presenter or a host of a programme introduces a topic, and some people who do not understand or know the first letter of that topic, pick up their telephones, even now with the advent of mobile phones, wherever they might be, can call into a programme and start contribution out of context. If the host of that particular programme himself or herself is not on top of the issue at stake and callers are allowed not only to display their ignorance, but encouraged to slander, castigate and even assassinate the character of innocent souls.

This happens often if the topics in questions have some semblance to political discussions. In fact, some callers may deliberately all in only to vent their spleen on their perceived opponents for the sake it. They normally have their way and their say by chanting all kinds of unprintable words and go scot free without any apologies fro the shame they deserve.

This is not good enough, especially if the perceived political opponent is not in the studio or on the other side of the line to respond. This is where professionalism in broadcast journalism is called for. If the media practitioner on duty does not know how to cut off or call that particular caller to order, the seed of animosity is sowed not only between that caller and the personality concerned. But the party members of that imaginary opponent, his relatives and all sympathizers who will be listening in to that particular programme at the material time. This is how the entire society is being poisoned like a well of water. The psychological result is that everybody’s mind is being poisoned against one another. And eventually, the collective mind of the nation is programmed as the head of a poisonous snake. Then the people begin to develop the tendencies of “YOU BITE ME, I BITE YOU”. Ghana is greater than any individual or personality, be he a media man or woman, politician, or an ordinary citizen in the street.

In May 1994, on the occasion of that year’s freedom day, Mr. Kofi Annan UN Secretary-General called on the media man and woman throughout the world to practice what he termed as “Preventive Journalism.” He was making reference to what happened in Rwanda the previous month then and pointed out that the genocide in that country could have been prevented if Rwandan journalists had engaged in preventive journalism rather than hatred one
This writer will like to add his voice to that of the UN Boss and appeal to the Ghanaian media to practice a kind of journalism that will guarantee the future socio–economic, political and cultural survival of Ghana. Let's say “NO” to hatred journalism in Ghana.

N/B: This article was first published in 2005.

AU Summit 2007: Praise Ghana, Alleluia!!!

AFRICAN UNION LOGO

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath
Long, long, long ago - long before Leonardo da Vinci of Italy flew the first air craft from a mountain top and crushed in a valley and got hurt badly, the legendary African Lizard had fallen off the tallest tree in the world and crushed on the ground without being hurt at all! Then still on the crushed spot, he looked up, down, left and right, expecting people around to clap for him for a great feat. But when the Lizard realised that nobody was minding him, he declared: “If nobody will praise me, I will praise myself!”

So, too, if nobody in this terrorist-infested world and highly coup d’état prone-continent of Africa will praise Ghana for having successfully hosted a terrorism-free AU Summit in the capital city of Accra from June 25, to July 3, 2007, with over 50 Heads of State, numerous Ministers and high-power diplomats and other dignitaries in attendance, I will praise Ghana on behalf of Ghana.

Commendation
There is no speck of doubt that Ghana as a nation deserves commendation for ensuring that not a single mosquito touched even the smallest toes of any of the African Heads of State who participated in the just-ended historical A U Summit in our country. Even Ghana Parliament has documented in its Hansards that there are incalculable mosquitoes in Accra and these mosquitoes do not need passports and visas to board a plane from any part of the city to the Accra International Conference Centre? This is why we must be grateful to the Creator and sing Praise to Ghana..! So Praise Ghana..! It was not an easy feat at all. Our ancestors coined a proverb that: “If you did not take part in the warfare, you would have the luxury to fume that people did not fight enough.”

Whether we like it or not, the 9th A U Summit Accra, with focused on the Grand Debate by the African Heads of State on the Union Government of the Continent has come and gone. I will prefer to call it a Golden Jubilee African Union Summit because it took place in the year that Ghana celebrated her Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary. More importantly, the seed of the United States of Africa germinated in the fertile womb of a son of Ghana in the African personality of the 20th century, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who never dies. Over 40 years ago when he was wide awake, and dreaming during day time, his peers were snoring in the night – hrorrrr- hrorrr- hrorr…!

Dr Nkrumah’s soul
As a matter of fact, the invisible soul of Dr Nkrumah took his seat in a corner behind the 52 or so African Heads who locked themselves up in the dark room to engage in the invisible Grand Debate. Why wasn’t the debate telecast live for the over 800 million other Africans to see “feelee-feelee?” If the Grand Opening Ceremony could be broadcast live, why not the Grand Debate? It would have made the drama more exiting indeed! And the Heads of State would have even earned the sympathy and an understanding of their citizenry in Africa and the Diaspora instantly.

Can you imagine an African Cup of Nations match in any country in Africa where only the players are allowed into the stadium? Are they playing for themselves or they are playing for the people of their respective nations? Now the African media, African civil societies and individuals citizens on the mother continent and the Diaspora, have also fiercely engaged themselves in another Grand Debate arguing the merits and demerits of the outcome of the “secret” debate - the “Accra Declaration” as the communiqué of the Grand Debate is known.

The purpose of this write-up is not to join the debate but just to look at how Ghana as a nation prepared for the event in terms of accommodation, vehicles and other logistics which made the summit worthy of attending. I will also touch briefly on how most delegates or visitors who came to Ghana for the first time saw our beloved country.

Philosophically, let us first and foremost be honest with ourselves that, as human beings, we are still treading in the forest of errors. Thus, nothing we do on this material plane can be perfect as such. We should therefore, not pretend that everything at the summit was like angels singing and dancing in the kingdom of heaven. And there has never been any perfect human endeavour any where in the world. There can only be a degree of excellence at best or outstanding.

Apology
We must be humble enough to admit our mistakes and say sorry for our shortfalls. This explains why Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mrs. Oboshie Sai Cofie, deserves commendation for coming out boldly to apologise to the media for the problems encountered with some security officers at the event. That apology was indicative of humility, maturity and wisdom on the part of Government and people of Ghana to the rest of Africa and the world. All those who felt offended in one way or the other must accept that apology in good faith.

The truth is that the original arrangements made for the media coverage under the direct command of the AU Commission Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, supported by the Ghana Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), was fantastic. But for the last minute security re-arrangements requested by some participating Heads of State, which protocol demanded Ghana Government to comply with, there would have been no much problems at all as far as media coverage of the event was concerned.

Again another factor that made things a bit difficult to accommodate the over 600 foreign journalists including local ones who descended from the media planet unto our land to cover the Grand Debate was the less than 2000 sitting capacity of the Accra International Conference Centre itself. Space in the Conference Centre became such a scarce commodity that GJA had to adopt a rationing strategy for the benefit of media personnel.

Whatever discussions and arguments we engage in now after the event is but a postmortem analysis or a review of the summit; which is very healthy for our democratic growth. This writer will therefore, humbly assert that we focus more on the positive aspects of the summit and pick up some lessons from the negative aspects so as to move forward not only as a nation but as a continent as well.

Let us also bear in mind that: “Darkness pervaded all before light came. But light came not from darkness. For darkness is the absence of light.” Therefore, as a nation we must endeavour to embrace light and shun darkness. Is there any Ghanaian of good will who will not wish only the best for Ghana?

Positive views about Ghana
Now listen to some positive comments made by most delegates about Ghana. Generally speaking, some foreign journalists whom this writer interacted with at the Media Centre confessed that they could not believe their eyes that they were in an African country. Two young Kenyan female journalists told me they were visiting Ghana for the first. Then when I asked them how they saw Ghana, they looked at each other’s faces and laughed. I wondered why. Then they exclaimed: “Your country is WAWO!” According to them, they found the city of Accra very “sparkling,” I felt flatted. And I was proud to be a Ghanaian. But inside me I knew most of the delegates did not have the opportunity to visit the Korle lagoon and the Sodom and Gomorrah areas of Accra.

One Cameroonian journalist put it this way: “I never knew that apart from South Africa there is another country in Africa which is so neat, clean and beautiful like Ghana.” Then he added, “Little wonder the World Bank and the IMF have always cited Ghana as a shining star of Africa.” Despite the problem with the media, some delegates at the Media Centre could not help it but to be dancing to the tune of highlife music being provided by the Global Media Alliance’s stand.

The Ministry of Information and National Orientation mounted a magnificent semi-photo exhibition of tourism pictures which attracted so many delegates. They collected all kinds of brochures and pamphlets about Ghana and wanted more. Some of them were snapping photographs of themselves, their shoes, belts and hats from January to December non-stop. They were enjoying the happiness of being in Ghana “keke,” as the Ga will say.

Another positive aspect of the Summit for which Ghana must be praised to the blue heavens was the splendid accommodation facilities made available for delegates ranging from the poorest messenger to the richest Head of State who came to Ghana. The Government and people of Ghana must be commended for sacrificing a little to make the august visitors feel at home away from home. It is these little, little basic things that add up to give Ghana a global branding as hospital and Friendliest people in the world.

The AU village at La Wireless area in Accra was a tourist attraction in itself. Coupled with the magnificent numerous three to four star hotels and others in the sparkling city of Accra made lodging and boarding enjoyable for the august visitors. In fact, Accra is on the way of becoming the neatest and cleanest city in West Africa if it is not yet there. However, the street lighting at night in the city is not good enough. We must do something about this street lights business before we die hen!

Again another successful aspect of the Accra Summit which must not be taken for granted was the harmonious and smooth fashion the delegates were conveyed in luxurious cars from their hotels to the Conference Centre and other venues for various activities such as the African First Ladies meetings, the Fashion Shows, the State Lunches, Dinners and Ghana’s Senior Citizens’ Party Gala with African Heads of State.

People who deserve commendation in this regard are the Ghana Police, the traffic wardens, the drivers who drove various delegates including the Heads of State, the young Ghanaian men and women who served as conductors, or guides and other security officers into whose hands the immediate safety of these delegates were entrusted while in Ghana. Sometimes, such officers had to spend long hours with these delegates to ensure that they safely returned to their lodges before they went home only to return the next moment to conduct them round again. The vital roles played by these ordinary officers must not be taken for granted. When the Big men and women are in the Paradise, they should not forget these small men and women on earth, oooo!

African First Ladies

Oh, less I forget! I have observed that most of the African First Ladies who came to Ghana including their host could participate in any beauty contest in any part of the world and they would win hands down. You see, the Creator Himself molded African women in a special way with their unique shapes from the toe to the head. Black beauty is always charming, soothing, graceful and consoling. On the Ghana Television, we saw that one of the African First Ladies was a gentle man. Something extraordinary happened at their meeting on Monday, July 2, 2007. When their Ghanaian Master of Ceremony was introducing them one by one, one of them was represented by a gentle man.

When that particular First Lady from a West African country was announced and a bearded-man in three-piece-costume moved to take the seat, the entire Parliament House where they were meeting burst into uncontrollable laughter. Was he a First Lady or First Gentleman? He himself could not help it. He laughed and laughed until tears started streaming from his eyes. It was fun. That is how life should be. Once in a while someone must create a situation where everybody will forget about their woes and laugh. Laughter is good for human beings. That is why of all creatures on earth only human beings have the gift to laugh haw-haw -haw- haw!

On a more serious note, I can vouch that African First Ladies are not only physically good-looking but their heads are impregnated with wisdom, intelligence and sense of purpose. They are bold, courageous and fearless in their outlook. At the time some of their husbands put their tails in-between their thighs and covering their faces so that television camera will not look into their eyes, their wives stoop up with chests high and decisively declared war on HIV/AIDS on the continent.

As mothers who go through the actual pain of labour, they reasoned that they could not sit down with their hands in their laps for HIV/AIDS to be robbing them of their babies at random. Consequently they have adopted a resolution to drastically deal with HIH/ AIDS here and now and not wait until January, 2008 or so.

The First Ladies’ resolution was so vital that it constitutes the foundation of the very survival of the future of Africa. How can there be United States of Africa in 50 years’ time if today’s African babies cannot live beyond the ages of five? Did African Heads of State embody the First Ladies’ resolution into the Accra Declaration? If not, why? African Women’s Rights Activists are you there? No further comment!

Frankly, there have been so many positive achievements of the Summit. I have not mentioned the economic gains such Dollars, Euros, and CFAC cash that poured into to the hospitality industry of our country during the period of the summit alone. But for purposes of this article the final one I should like to mention is the special website Ghana created for the event.

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Information and National Orientation developed a unique website which was devoted solely for online information dissemination on the Accra AU Summit 2007. The website address was: www.ausummit-accra.org.gh This site was located within the premises of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and managed by the Information Services Department (ISD).

It must be admitted that, perhaps the publicity for the site was not adequate. But it was through this site that, in addition to publishing news stories on the summit on daily basis, speeches, communiqués and other papers presented at the Summit were dispatched online to the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In fact, the AU Headquarters was very appreciative of the services received through this site. They admitted that but for the Accra Summit website, AU itself would have been totally out of coverage area of Ghana. As you know, Africa is still struggling in the forest of technology and power crisis. But we shall overcome someday.

Suggestion
Shall I make one small suggestion for the consideration of the nation? Alright! Ghana must embark, as a matter of urgency, upon the construction of a new International Conference Centre. The new Conference Centre must have at least 10.000 sitting capacity. In the main hall, provision must be made for a Press gallery of at least 3.000 sitting capacity. The Conference Centre must no longer be squeezed in the already congested city centre of Accra. It must be sited either at Dodowa or Kokrobite near Accra. Twah, twah, twah- Omanye abaa! Yaoo!!! Praise Ghana!

Taking ICTs Closer To Rural People in Ghana

COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRE (SAMPLE)
By Mawutodzi K. Abissath
Once upon a time, the only means of transport available to mankind were human feet. There was no automobile, no locomotive, no sea-craft, let alone an air-craft. But then, King Hyena and King Tortoise had to embark upon a long journey to a common destination.

The two friends were to participate in a very crucial council of traditional rulers' meeting that was to adopt a resolution to transform all satellite kingdoms into one mighty kingdom with one supreme King. Of course, they had no choice but to make the trip on foot. However, because King Hyena was faster than King Tortoise, he left him behind and rushed to the meeting. Eventually the two friends reached their destination and successfully accomplished their mission. There is, therefore, this African proverb which reminds that: "Wherever Hyena will go, Tortoise, too, can go; the only difference may be the time each of them will reach their destination."

Ghana, like Malaysia, Singapore and other technologically minded countries, is today gradually but steadily taking Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to rural communities so as to bridge the digital divide between the urban dwellers and the rural folks in the country.

One strategy Ghana Government has adopted to achieve this feat is the establishment of Community Information Centres (CICs) in all 138 districts throughout the country. The ultimate goal is to establish the CICs in all the 230 constituencies in Ghana. In fact the beauty underlining this concept is to replicate miniature kinds of Ghana-India Kofi Annan of Advanced Information Technology Centre of Excellence in all corners of the country. No matter how long it will take Government to accomplish this seemingly insurmountable task, the important fact is that Government has taken the first step towards the realisation of this vision and mission. It must be borne in mind that those countries like Singapore and others who are leading in this field of endeavour, known as E-Government started their journey almost 30 years ago. So Ghana, too, will get there. In this context, E-Government simply stands for Electronic Government. And Electronic Government signifies Governments providing public services to their citizens electronically or online. In Singapore, Government slogan is: Whatever services that can be provided electronically must be delivered electronically. Simple and short.

ICT Policy
It is relevant to mention in passing that Ghana Government through the Ministry of Communications, in 2003 formulated an ICT policy dubbed, Information and Communication Technology for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD). This policy can be characterised as the foundation upon which Ghana's vision for the information age was built. As a matter of fact the Ghana ICT4AD is the concrete evidence of the government's objective to ensure the availability of quality and affordable access to information and communications services to facilitate the transformation of Ghana into knowledge-based society and technological driven- economy as ratified by the country at the World Summit on Information Society in 2005 or so.

The formulation of the ICT4AD also takes in account the aspirations and the provisions of key socio-economic development framework documents such as Ghana's vision 2020 the First Step; the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) 2002 -2004; the Co-ordinated Programme for Economic and Social Development of Ghana (2003 -2012).
This has been updated within the thee-pronged Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) II development strategy. The focus is to enable Ghana attain her developmental goals faster and more efficiently.

At the time of writing this piece, Ghana Government has drawn up comprehensive Development Action Plans out of the ICT Development Policy. The implementation plans outlined specific areas of focus, dubbed Sub-plans. These include: the E-Government Sub-plan; the Accelerated Human Development Sub-plan; the E-education Sub-plan; the Private Sector Development Sub-plan and the E-Commerce Development Sub-plan. Others are the E-Health Sub-plan; the ICT and Physical Infrastructure Development and Roll-out Sub-plan; the Legal, Regulatory, Institutional Provisions and Standards Sub-plan; the Industrial, Scientific Research Drive and Promotion Sub-plan; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Drive in ICTs ; the E-Security Sub-plan and above all, the ICTs-in-Community Sub-plan; just to cite a few.

It is the ICTs-in-Community Sub-plan which is the special point of reference in this article. This plan is targeted at programmes and initiatives for facilitating rapid deployment of ICTs within the community especially in the rural zones to promote universal access to and the exploitation of ICTs and its resources in the population at large. And one of the concrete measures Government has adopted in achieving this transfer of ICTs to the rural dwellers is the establishment of the Community Information Centres in various districts of the country.

CICs
Ghana's Ministry of Communications since 2005 has embarked on infrastructure development of CICs at the, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies throughout the country. So far 71 CICs have been established in selected communities. The communities have been selected based on certain existing facilities such as electricity, telephones and so on in those communities.

It is important to underline the fact that the CICs are at various state of development. In other words, not all the established 71 CICs are in full operation yet. According to survey and evaluation mission conducted by the office of the UNDP in Accra in April, 2007, various CICs are at various operational and functional levels. For example, out of the total number of 71, five have been commissioned (C); eight have been classified as fully operationalised and functional (OF); two are described as operationalised (O); 11 of them are categorised as pending operationalisation (PO) and another 11 referred to as ready, while 34 are placed on status of Civil Works (CW). It must be noted that some of the terms used here to describe the status of the CICs are more or less technical and can best be interpreted by the technical experts. This writer is only trying to disseminate relevant public information for the benefit of the people of Ghana and beyond, and as such, will not pretend to be an ICT expert at all.

This year (2007) Government is determined to establish at least two CICs with full operational capacity in each of the ten regions of the country before the end of the year. And when we talk of CIC with full operational capacity, we mean a Centre that is fully equipped not only with machines but with the human being with ICT skills and managerial know how, who will operate the equipment and manage the Centre as well. In this regard a fully operationalised and functional level CIC must have the following: The physical building itself with electricity and telephone facilities; the Local Area Network (LAN); at least five (5) workstations, that is computers; one Server; one Switch; one Printer; one Scanner and five (5) UPSs. One may ask what are some of the services that a CIC is supposed to render to the community. And I will further probe to know the targeted beneficiaries of CICs in a typical deprived community.

Basically a CIC has a responsibility to provide not only an Internet cyber cafe services to the community, which is so far, the focus of most CICs visited in April this year. But the CICs are mandated to provide ICT training opportunity to the rural brothers and sisters in the area of basic computer literacy so that they will not see a computer as some ferocious creature ready to devour them whenever they touch it.

Further, the CICs are to support business activities in rural communities by providing marketing information on improved agricultural production and extension services. More importantly, the CICs are strategically positioned to disseminate and educate rural folks on government policies, programmes and projects, especially in the areas of health, education, agriculture, environment, local government by-laws, tourism potentials and investment opportunities in their own localities and how they can tap those using ICT tools. And the main beneficiaries of CICs among others are the general community members, school children, youth out of school, women and women groups, private business entities, Non-governmental organisations, local government authorities and of course our most venerable traditional authorities.

Stake holders
There are several stake holders or collaborators including the Ministry of Communications, the Assemblies themselves, the UNDP, the Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL)and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation (MINO), who are putting their expertise at the disposal of the CICs to make them really productive and to live up to expectation. There are other indirect development partners, playing crucial roles behind the scene such as the World Bank, the International Institute for Communication Development (IICD) and others.

MINO for instance, is responsible for the content management of the CICs. In other words, it is the Ministry of Information and National Orientation through the Information Services Department that has the mandate to employ its experience in the communication and dissemination of public information and the technical know how in editorial matters of information gathering, processing, packaging and disseminating to the grassroots people in the rural zones through the famous ISD Cinema Vans. Information Services Department also has offices doted in most districts with officers who have the technical know how of sending feed-back to government to assess the impact of its policies on ordinary people in the street.

With the coming into being of CICs it has become imperative for these Information Officers to acquire relevant ICT skills in order to support the CICs in content management strategies. This is where, UNDP deserves tons of commendation for teaming up with Ghana Government by providing technical and financial support in the area of capacity building for MINO in training Information Officers to enable them upgrade themselves so as to add modern technique of information dissemination using ICT tools in addition to their traditional know-how.

Capacity Building
During the first and second weeks of June, 2007, UNDP organised a 'Train-the-Trainer' Course in ICTs for selected 22 Information Officers including some District Information Officers at the Ghana Multi-media Information Centre (GMIC) in Accra. At the closing session of that capacity building programme, Ghana's Minister for Information and Orientation, Hon.Kwamena Bartels (MP), was full of praise to the UNDP for their commitment to supporting Government in achieving its ICT 4 AD goals in the country.

The Minister disclosed that his Ministry had just embarked on a nation-wide recruitment exercise and over 116 additional District Information Officers are expected to be appointed to fill vacancies in the remaining districts where officers are not currently available. He pointed out that the CICs have come to stay and are to contribute to get the people at the grassroots to "be informed and enlightened to enable them make informed choices."

Honourable Bartels stated that a series of ICT capacity building programmes would be lined up for all new Information Officers to be engaged to acquire the requisite skills in content management to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently at the CICs where they would be posted to. He, therefore, placed UNDP on "red-alert" to stand by. As he put it, "Oliver Twist."

Mr Fredrick Ampiah, Partnership Advisor and Head of Partnership Unit at the UNDP who represented the UNDP Country Director in Ghana was of the view that the entire country was strategically positioned to achieve the time-bound Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015. He noted that, "the initiative of developing ICT capacity within the Information Services Department will not only serve as the foundation for the full utilisation of the CIC concept, but will also go a long way to improve the creation of knowledge based societies in the rural areas where the majority of Ghanaians live."

Mobile Phone: A Tool For Modern Fishermen In Ghana

EVOLUTION OF MOBILE PHONES OVER THE YEARS

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath
It is prudent to be guided by some of the thought-provoking African proverbs like this simple one: “A child who has never traveled before tends to think that only his mother knows how to cook delicious soup.”

Long, long ago; and long before the Pyramids of Egypt were built and before Amenhotep IV a.k.a Akhenaton who was the first human being to proclaim monotheism or the concept of One God, passed through transition in 1350 B.C., traditional fishermen went to sea with only two basic tools – a wooden canoe and fishing net. The canoe fishermen then could not sail into relatively deep sea to catch whatever fishes they wanted. They were compelled to spend long days and harsh nights at sea, all in vain like Apostle Peter and his colleagues before they met the Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

Later in the 20th century or so, when automobile was invented and mechanical engineering advanced to a cert degree of perfection, canoe fishermen added one more tool to their implements – the out-board motor. This tool helped tremendously to make sailing swift, fast and very smooth indeed. In fact, fishing became more pleasant and enjoyable. The canoes were propelled by four- stroke engines and fishermen could go as far as they wanted provided there was enough pre-mixed fuel in their petrol tank. The proud fishermen could ride and dive deep into the sea and chase fishes and harvest them in their very “dormitories” even when they are in the process of “procreating”.

In Ghana, during bumper harvest seasons, some fishermen had no choice but to dump some of their catches back into the sea to avoid selling them at heart-broken prices at the shore. Why? Because they did not have access to cold store facilities to preserve the extra catches for tomorrow. Further more; they did not have the means to communicate with their agents or customers beyond their immediate communities in advance to determine whether their catches could be sold at competitive prices before else where. Thus, they were at the mercy of some unscrupulous middle women fish mongers.

Today, at the threshold of the 21st century, thanks to Information Communication Technology (ICT) particularly Mobile Telephony, fishermen in Ghana have added the fourth most important tool to their fishing equipment – Mobile Phone. Ghanaian fishermen may be characterized as the latest segment of the Ghanaian society, especially in the rural community to join the technological train wagon of mobile phone users.

On Wednesday November 23, 2005, this writer was invited in his capacity as a Journalist interested in ICT or online-journalism or cyber-journalism to join a group of researchers, headed by the Coordinator of the Technology Assessment Project (TAP) of the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Amos Anyimadu on a study tour of some selected Districts in the Central Region of Ghana with particular focus on fisher folks of Moree.

Without attempting to bamboozle the reader with any ICT jargons such as “VSAT Technology”, “Telematics”, “Mobile telephony”, “Seamless Integration” and what have you, suffice to say that the purpose of the study tour was simply to find out how Information Communication Technology for Advanced Development (ICT4D) policy of the Government of Ghana was being impacted on the rural communities in general. In this particular case the research was further narrowed down on how the fishermen of Moree are making use of Mobile Phones to enhance their traditional fishing business to improve upon their living standards.

Moree is a prominent fishing town along the coast of Ghana. It is about two hours’ drive west of Accra, off Accra-Takoradi road a few kilometers away from Cape Coast Township. It is located in the Abura, Asebu, Kwankese District. Moree now has a population of about 30.000 according to the 2000 population census. Even before the research team got to Moree, the team leader, Dr Anyimadu, decided that a stop-over be made at Apam, another progressive fishing town in the Central Region to briefly interact with some fishermen there to see whether the Mobile phone fiver in Ghana has caught up with them, too.

In fact, we reached Apam rather late about 7.30p.m to 8.00p.m. We asked and were directed to the real area where typical fishermen and women live. The first question Dr Anyimadu asked in the language of the people (Fanti) was whether there was any Communication Centre in the area. A wooden quiosk was pointed out to us. Even though there was no electric light in it, it was operating as a Communication Centre alright.

Central Region fishermen were found to be very open and eager to offer information. As soon as they were made to understand the purpose of our visit in their community at that time of the day, the news spread like bush fires. They were told that we were a team of researchers from the University of Ghana trying to find out whether they had access to mobile phones. If yes, was there any way the communication gadgets were helping them to advance the business.

Within a twinkle of an eye, we were invaded by people and any questions put to them were responded to with alacrity. They even offered some information that we did not anticipate. They talked about how they use the mobile phones to check from their agents and customers from various parts of the country where the prices of fish were more competitive.

One revelation we did not know until then was that some fishermen go to sea only to buy fishes from other bigger fishing boats to come and sell. In a nutshell the Apam fishermen are making good use of the Communication Centres and “Space to Space operators” who are operating both fixed lines and mobile phones to enhance their fishing business. Shall I digress a bit?

About 18 years ago, precisely in September 1988, just after 12 months of the establishment of an Apam Community FM Station, I personally went to spend seven days in that town to administer survey questionnaires to a variety of respondents. The survey was in connection with my Project Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Diploma in Journalism of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Accra. My topic was “Communication and Organisation of Rural People for Development: A Case Study of Apam FM Station”. In fact the survey covered Apam and Mannford fishing communities. Even though the Station had been in existence for barely one year at the time, I wanted to know if it was making any impact on the rural people. As a matter of fact, the Apam Community FM Station was an experimental Project of the Ghana Broad Casting Corporation (GBC). The experiment was based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) concept of Rural Broadcasting.

What was fascinating about the Apam FM Station was that, at that time, Ghana was the second country in Africa (after Kenya), selected by UNESCO to benefit from the Community FM Station Programme initiated by what was known as the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).The Station was commissioned on September 26,1987 by the then Ag. PNDC Secretary for Information, Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi on behalf of the then Chairman J.J.Rawlings.

One major benefit that the fishermen derived from that Community FM Station, according to the survey was that, every dawn before they embarked on their fishing expeditions, they would wait and listen to the weather forecast for the day on the radio in their own language before they went to sea. That service the Station was rendering them was more valuable to them than anything else in their vocation or trade. It helped them avoid storms and other unpredictable hazards at sea.

Thus, besides, relevant information, education, entertainment and other motivational programmes that the station was broadcasting to mobilize the rural folks for development as far as communication was concerned, the people were allowed to go to the studio to undertake some unique traditional performances themselves. Today the Apam Community FM Station is “dead”. The fishermen lamented when I inquired on Wednesday 23 November, 2005 when the Technology Assessment Project team visited the town. Apam fishermen expressed the desire to have their Community FM Station back. According to them, the 10kw transmitter donated by UNESCO has broken down and the Station had been off air for the past seven years or so.

Now they had to rely on Adom FM in Tema or Peace F M in Accra to listen to the weather forecast. May I take the liberty to suggest that the District Assembly responsible for Apam, the Member of Parliament for that constituency in collaboration with GBC, if possible, should do some feasibility study of the Community FM Station and come up with a proposal for the consideration of UNESCO for technical support to see if that Radio Station could not be revived for the development communication of the rural people?

On Thursday November 24, 2005, the Technology Assessment Project study team continued with their research findings at Moree. There is one Communication Centre in Moree, called “Shalom Communication Centre”. It has one fixed line. The land linetelephone number is virtually known to everybody in the town. With this strategy whoever in the town receives a call from any part of the country through the Communication Centre can be sent for to respond for a fee. The Communication Centre owner also has a mobile phone in addition to his fixed line. There are three other people who are operating “Table-top Space to Space system” in the town. Those who have mobile phones have to search for a suitable location to position themselves in order to receive network connectivity otherwise, their handsets will only be “museum pieces” in their hands. Mobile phone operating companies should not only crowd themselves in Accra and other big cities. They must consider investing in rural communities, too. They will still make profit considering what we saw at Moree.

In an interview with the chief fisher of Moree, Nana Fin and some of his elders, the Mobile phone has become one of the most important tools they are now using to enhance their business as far as the fishery industry is concerned. According to Chief fisherman, he himself has two mobile phones. He himself does no longer go to sea often. Therefore, when his people are sailing, he gives one mobile phone to them to take along. He keeps one with himself at home. With this strategy communication link is established between him and his fishermen at sea.

He explains that whenever there is any problem such as a shortage of pre-mixed fuel or someone falls sick at sea the fishermen at sea use the mobile phone to communicate with him at home. Then he will quickly respond and arrange for solution to whatever might be the difficulty being encountered at sea. Nana Fin is very happy and proud for this dimension brought about in their vocation thanks to Mobile Telephony. He recalls that previously, when his fishermen went to sea for about three or more days without any feedback, he would be restless until they returned safely. “But these days I am always in contact with my people at sea if only they are within 30km to 40km radius away from me. And I am able to know whatever is happening until they come back to shore”, he said with broad smiles in his face.

Furthermore, with the Mobile phone he could verify the prices of fish at various market places at Tema, Kumasi, Koforidua or even Accra before his people land with their catches. Other fishermen spoken to in Moree concurred with the Chief Fisherman. Messrs Kobina Otu, Mark Pratt and Kofi Sarsah, all of whom have one mobile phone each were very proud to possess the modern communication gadget which is making their business more enjoyable. They are calling on mobile phone operators to come and open mobile phone shops in Moree because more people are eager to acquire the equipment as part of heir fishing implements.

Nevertheless, the fisher folks of Moree have one particular problem which is militating against the smooth operation of the canoe fishing industry in the area. According to fishermen interviewed the basic problem is the use of very powerful lights by some fishing trawlers or boats in fishing in their waters. They said this problem has been persisting for over two years now and all efforts made to obtain the attention of authorities concerned to help solve the problem prove futile. They complained bitterly that the use of the powerful lights tends to drive the fishes away from canoe fishermen who are not able to do deep sea fishing. In fact the Chief fisherman of Moree stated that because of this problem the business of women fishmongers in the town has virtually come to an end. “Now our women are leaving for Abidjan, Kumasi and other places because they don’t have work to do in our town” he lamented.

Mr. Kobina Otu, another leading fisherman, put his lamentation in a rather philosophical fashion thus: “Look us,” he chipped in. “We don’t have forest into which we can go and hunt for games or cultivate cash crops like cocoa and so on. Fishing is the only vocation we depend on to feed ourselves, cloth our wives, and above all to education our children. If today others are making it impossible for us to undertake our God-given career, then what are we living for?”, he queried hypothetically. Moree fishermen are therefore, appealing to the authorities concerned to come to their aid by stopping those who are using the powerful lights in fishing in their area of operation.

The Technology Assessment Project has been mandated by the Ghana Office of the World Bank and other partners to undertake a radio production on Information and Decentralized Development. A follow-up forum on Mobile Communication will take place at Busy Internet in Accra on December 5,2005, while in-depth research findings of the Moree study tour will be published in a book later. Ghana now has no choice but to
embrace ICT to accelerate its development strategy for the prosperity of the nation.

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