�Start e-Governance With Public Sector�

Chief Director at the Ministry of Communications (MoCs,) Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, has advocated the need for the country to start its e-Governance (e-Gov) [Electronic Governance] system with the public sector if the country wants to achieve full benefits of the system. He made this suggestion when he spoke at the launch and inaugural lecture of the e-Governance Forum in Accra yesterday. The forum was jointly organised by First Digital TV (FDTV,) Media Response (MR) and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). According to Mr. Ofosu-Adarkwa, the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) stand to benefit more if the services they render are accessed online. He said it will take out the stress people go through when they want to access key services offered by the various government agencies. The chief director stressed the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) following the effective delivery of services to businesses and individuals. He however warned that achieving good service delivery is a process, adding that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted in a report that the use of technology will improve based on people, the technology itself and the process used. �I know opinions have been expressed that improvement in governance is not necessarily about technology but good corporate governance,� he said. He commended NITA, FDTV, MR and the public sector for the initiative, stressing that NITA on behalf the MoCs has helped to promote quality service delivery in the public sector. But Mr. Ofosu-Adarkwa wondered whether Ghanaians in the hinterlands were aware of the platform, especially when government was undertaking projects to develop those areas. He was however hopeful that with the telecast of the e-Gov on FDTV, people will be become abreast of it and �once they do, they can use ICT to apply for services [like passports, birth certificates etc].� Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MR, Samuel Dodoo, said the platform seeks to demystify the e-Gov transformation process by empowering citizens� with requisite knowledge and skills to enable them effectively participate in and derive optimum benefits from the e-Gov process in the country. �The platform will also be used to raise public awareness on e-Gov process in the country,� he said. General Manager of FDTV, Marisa Susan Fee, in her presentation said 2.8 per cent of Ghanaians use traditional mailing system (post office system) following the emergence of the internet. She however stressed that the difference between the internet and face-to-face interaction is the ability for the latter to elicit facial response. �It is normal for people not be conversant with the use of ICT since today, mobile phones do not come with user manuals yet constant use will get the user abreast of it,� she advised. ��The letter D in Digital stands for democracy that is why the platform will be aired on Channel D on FDTV,� she disclosed. Chairman for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, Hon. Albert Abongo, said ICT ensures a well-connected world. He said developing countries were lagging behind in the use of ICT but added that steps were being taken to catch up with them; stressing that private sector and trade institutions were helping. Hon. Abongo officially launched the platform on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.