The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) and the Kofi Annan ICT Center (AITI- KACE) have collaborated to expand ICT research and training, especially in rural areas.

The move is part of efforts to support government’s digitization agenda and ensure more people are comfortable with the use of ICT for all business transactions.

The three bodies are merging their facilities across the country to achieve the aim. As a preliminary activity, the parties will conduct a strategic planning exercise to review the ongoing operations of the AITI- KACE in both Bolgatanga and Sunyani.

The CEO of GIFEC, Kofi Asante said as part of the collaboration, ICT Centres would be set up within Library premises, to promote affordable ICTs for socio-economic development of Ghana and avoid duplication of resources to achieve similar end goals.

“The collaboration between GIFEC/GhLA and AITI- KACE will enable Ghana to keep pace with digital eruptions that continues to rock today’s technological era. In addition, it will facilitate the achievement of GIFEC’s mandate of improving ICT infrastructure in deprived communities and delivering ICT literacy to all persons especially persons with disabilities and the marginalized in this information age,” he said.

He was hopeful of positive gains from the partnership, “with these collaborations, I have no doubt that; all parties will achieve their mission of transforming Ghana through digital innovations.”

The acting CEO of the Ghana Library Authority, Hayford Siaw added that the move will offer the opportunity for public sector workers to get ICT training in these facilities nationwide.

He added that the Authority had declared 2019 as a year of Reading and one of the objectives was to increase access to the digital technology for Ghanaians and to create a conducive environment for people who use the Library services.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM