TELECOM OPERATORS AGREE TO CO-OPERATE

By Mawutodzi K, Abissath

No. 147973 SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2000    Price: ¢800

LAST Saturday, July 22, 2000, could be characterised as a ''Telecom Pentecostal Day" in Ghana. It was a day the Holy Ghost descended on telecom operators who saw the light of co-operation in competition.

The miracle occurred at no other place than the proverbial "Dodowa Forest" about 18 Kilometers East of the capital, Accra. It was fantastic! Who says "jaw-jaw is not better than war-war"?

But the "Telecom Holy Spirit" did not come down on its own volition. It took the trinity command of the Ministry of Communications, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications and the National Communication Authority (NCA) to do the trick.

The occasion was a one-day round-table forum dubbed "Dodowa II". It was aimed at reviewing a Communique adopted at a similar seminar held in December last year at the Marina Hotel, Dodowa.

The genesis of the whole episode was that precisely on December 18, 1999, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority, organised a one-day-forum for telecom operators at Dodowa.

 The chief object of that forum was to discuss the numerous problems facing the telecom industry and to seek solutions to them. The theme for the seminar was "Post Privatisation Management and its Challenges in the Telecom Sector: Ghana's experience".

An eye witness account of the event has it that it was "butubutu" (apologies to Kwatriot).

This writer learnt that upon protracted hot debates, interspersed with bitter accusations and counter accusations, it was fireworks all the way. It was said that there were live exchange of verbal blows leading to tempers rising beyond 100 degree Celsius.

In fact, I was told that at one stage, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, Hon. Nii Adjei-Boye Sakan, had to put his parliamentary experience to practical application. Like the Speaker of the House, he restored order by suspending proceedings and ordering all belligerent operators to go outside to receive some fresh air before reinterring the conference room.

It was no joke at all? But at the end of the day calm was restored and a Communique adopted. It was this Communique that was reviewed on Saturday July 22, 2000 at Dodowa. Thank God this year's story was different. Unlike the Dodowa I where some managing directors failed to attend, Dodowa II succeeded in bringing together the chief executives of all telecom companies in the country.

They include Ghana Telecom, Westel, Capital Telecom, Mobitel, Spacefon and Celtel.

Again, while the Hon. Minister for Communications, Mr John Mahama (MP), could not personally attend the first forum due to other official engagements, this time around, the minister was there in bones and flesh. And it appeared his magnetic aura coupled with the authoritative voice of Hon. Nii Adjei-Boye Sakan, who was again in the chair, an atmosphere of love, peace and harmony was created for the smooth conduct of proceedings. Above all, the maturity of the operators themselves was beyond compare. They have grown wiser and more tolerant to one another since Dodowa I.

This is highly commendable.

At the end of it all, Telecom operators, on their own accord, have resolved to convene a kind of consultative meeting among themselves to iron out whatever technical problems militating against-the smooth operation of the industry.

They vowed never to allow any black cat to penetrate the inner most of their common dormitory. However, the operators called on the Government to nominate, inaugurate and swear into office the Board of Directors of the NCA without delay.

They reasoned that this measure will ensure a plain field for all players in the industry to perform creditably for the advancement of the nation.

Hon. Nii Adjei-Boye Sakan supported by all other members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications present at Dodowa gave the operators three months to resolve all outstanding issues regarding the progress of the telecom industry and submit a Report at Dodowa III, scheduled for November this year.

Hon. Sakan told the operators not to concentrate on their profit margin only but to put the interest of consumers on the centre stage of their operation.

They must also set up a body that will educate the general public and also ensure the protection of investors in the sector.

The Ag. Director-General of the NCA, Mr J. K Gyimah informed the operators that the NCA is operating in accordance with the standards set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). He called on the operators to discharge their financial obligations to enable the NCA to render better services to them all.

The Minister for Communications, Hon. John Mahama, told the conference participants that Ghana's vision is to become a Regional Telecom Hub for West Africa and if possible the entire continent. He pointed out the immediate priority of the government is to see to it that every Ghanaian citizen has access to telecom services regardless of his or her geographical location in the country.

Mr Mahama assured the operators that efforts were far advanced to put the necessary laws and regulations in place to resolve existing problems confronting the communications sector. He, however, warned that his ministry will not tolerate any individual or organisations who may want to take undue advantage of the Information Communications Technology to indulge in dubious, fraudulent and illegal activities that will sabotage the economic prosperity of our mother land. Bravo to telecom operators!

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic Saturday, July 29, 2000.

NO COMPUTER LITERACY, NO JOB

                  By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

Daily Graphic October 8, 2004

Do you remember that common saying that: "When persuasion fails force must apply?"  Ghana is gradually but steadily approaching a technological stage in her socio-economic development where the application of the tools of Information and Communication Technology (lCT) can no longer be taken for granted.

On Thursday, September 16, this year, Dr Alex Glover-Quartey, the Head of Ghana Civil Service, did not mince words at all when he told Chief Directors that anybody who was not computer literate would not be appointed Chief Director again in the service.

In fact, Dr Glover-Quartey did not only make a mere statement, but gave a fiat: "I have decided that all Chief Directors must endeavour to become computer literate by 31st December this year," he ordered. (Observers are watching 000; my pen no bi sword!).

Dr Glover-Quartey seems a smart Head of Civil Service in modern Ghana. Do you know the venue where he gave this technological marching order? At the plush Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. That is the only place in Ghana where no ICT-minded person can challenge you if you give such an order or directive.

And the occasion itself was a One-day-workshop organised by the Civil Service headquarters in Accra to "Validate Agency-Specific ICT Policy Statements". Participants for the event were made up of Chief Directors of all ministries, regional Co-coordinating Directors from all the 10 regions of the country and IT Directors from the ministries.

When Dr Glover-Quartey opened his mouth to address the powerful decision makers of the, service, he churned a quotation by Juan Somvia in Decent Work: "No Society can succeed in a globalised environment unless its people have adequate knowledge and skills."

The truth of the matter is that the government has come out with a policy document known as the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD), which presents the vision of Ghana in the information age. The policy is said to have set out the road map for the development of Ghana's information society and economy and provides a basis for driving and facilitating the socio-economic prosperity of the country in the emerging information and knowledge-based world.

It came to light that under the ICT Policy agenda, a number of specific Information and Communications Technology strategies, initiatives and action plans were to be undertaken by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to promote e-governance and greater use of ICT in the delivery of government services in the country.

Some of the strategies to be adopted include: 1. Modernisation of the civil service to improve its efficiency, effectiveness and service delivery through the department to ICT. 2. Implementation of e-government programme initiatives "and action plans such as Government to Government (G2G), Government to Business (G2B), Government to Citizens (G2C) and Government to Development Partners (G2DP).

Improve basic computer skills of Civil Servants through in-service training; 4. Development and the enforcement of ICT standards, guidelines and best practices within the Civil Service. 5. Re-engineering of the business process within the Civil Service environment and finally 6- Implementation of the New Partnership for African Development  (NEPADs) ICT initiatives and achieving the goals and targets on the UN millennium declaration.

How does the Civil Service intend to achieve these laudable strategies?  Never forget the famous African proverbs which says: "If a blind person threatens to throw a stone at you, then you must know that his or her foot is already on the stone."

According to Dr Glover- Quartey, the Civil Service ICT Vision and Plan of Action is to establish a Civil Service College of which the Civil Service Computer Centre would be an integral, part. Some enthusiastic civil servants are anxious and itching to know how soon the College and Computer Centre would start operating.

If the Centre had been in existence before the Chief Directors were given the December 31, computer literacy order, it would have been wonderful "paaa".  In any case the Chief Directors don't need a Civil Service College to learn how to use computers.

The truth is that some of them, especially "the first generation" Chief Directors have had computers sitting like a decorative museum piece, on their desktops from the day Adam was created in the Eden Garden. And most of them are just battling with a disease called "Computer phobia", which prevents them from using the tip of their index finger to boot the computer. Whatever be the case, the concept of the Civil Service College is most laudable and can be said to be long overdue. It's vision and mission, as were enumerated on that occasion by its 'Commander-in-Chief,' Dr Glover-Quartey is heartwarming and soul moving.

The college, it is learnt, among other things, is to facilitate continuous improvement and development of global competitiveness, skills and competencies of civil servants to enable them to provide world class services to citizens and the private sector. This continuous education and training for all citizens, especially for government employees is known as e-learning for life in Singapore.

The acquisition of this type of skills, competencies, ideas and information is referred to as intangible capital in digital economy being run in Singapore. If a country like Singapore is leading in E-Government services delivery in the world it is because that country's entire Civil Service has been the first sector to be computerised when it started its journey on digital economy. What Singapore did was to educate its citizens in general and public servants in particular. That is what is known as Government to Employees (G2E) in the scope of E-Government strategies.

Whether Ghanaians like it or not, ICT has come to remold the entire globe into an e-World. And a time will soon come where you can be a PhD holder in mathematics from the "University of Heaven", but, if you are not a computer literate, it is not the Head of the Civil Service who will not appoint you as a Chief Director, but the system itself will flush you out.

The author works with the Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB: This article was first published the Daily Graphic October 8, 2004

GHANA’S COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRES PROJECT ON COURSE

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

Daily Graphic Thursday, May 29, 2008

SHALL we refresh our memory with this simple, but tricky African proverb which says: "If your hair is dirty and you do not submit your head to a barber, nobody will cut the hair for you?" To wit: "No initiative, no end result."

 Information and Communication technology (ICT) has not only succeeded in transforming the world into a miniature community, but has also made it possible for mankind to be developing another dwelling place beyond the moon, besides the planet Earth. However,  it seems to this author that the rate at which other continents are scrambling for space in the space, and the pace at which Africa is crawling scientifically and technologically, it may take another two centuries, that is, perhaps in the 23^rd  century before Africa can book a place in the space.

Fortunately for Africa, however, even though the continent itself seems to be hopeless technologically, there are abundant individual African citizens dotted in all corners of the globe who are contributing technologically to the advancement of mankind into the space. This author can cite at least one citizen of Africa - a Ghanaian to be precise, by the name Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu, who is a Member of the NASA Mars Rover Mission in America. So, therefore, there is hope for Africa scientifically and technologically.

In 2003, the Government of Ghana completed the formulation of a comprehensive lCT Policy for the nation. It is known as Ghana Information and Communication Technology for Accelerated Development (lCT4AD). It was spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications. It may, however, be of historical interest to state in passing that the work on the ICT Policy for Ghana actually started in October 1998 by the then NDC1 government.

A National Communications Policy Conference dubbed, COMPOL '98, involving all stakeholders in the ICT sector was held at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra. The policy document was finalised in October 2000 at Akosombo for the approval of Cabinet. However, due to bureaucracy, the then Cabinet could not pass the Communications Bill before elections 2000.

Then in September 2001, the NPP government also organised another National Communications Policy Conference, held at GIMPA, to review and update the Communications Policy Document formulated by the previous government. The result is what is today referred to as Ghana lCT Policy for Accelerated Development.

 It is commendable to observe that when one government initiates a project or programme, which is in the national interest, another government will take it up, review it, update and improve upon it, instead of throwing it out altogether. (And it is recalled that it was on that fateful Tuesday of September 11, 2001, when the communication conference was opened at GIMPA that the tragic news of terrorist bombing of the World Trade Centre flashed across the globe).

Within the framework of lCT4AD, the Government of Ghana has embarked upon several projects, including the E-Ghana Project to transform Ghana into an information enabled society for knowledge-based economic development. But the focus of this piece is on the Community Information Centres (CICs) project, which is not only human-centered, but under privileged rural dweller-centered as well.

As a matter of fact, the CICs project also falls within the frame work of World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), where all nations are enjoined to attain certain targets, including the provision of ICT access and skills to the underprivileged and rural dwellers globally. And one concrete strategy the Government of Ghana adopted to attain this target was to establish community information centres in all the 230 constituencies throughout the country.

Beyond WSIS's broad objective for all nations, the Government of Ghana set its own clear-cut and specific objectives to use the CICs project to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural dwellers in the country.

The government aims at demystifying that xenophobic aura surrounding computers by taking ICT to the doorstep of the deprived and neglected brothers and sisters in remote rural areas through the community information centres in about 170 districts in Ghana.

The CICs are to serve as training centres where acquisition of ICT skills and knowledge is provided for the underprivileged. The CICs are to bring government services online, closer to the people at the grass roots. Rural school pupils and students can access online library facilities from top educational institutions in any part of world.

In fact, the CICs are to serve as a hub in the provision of Wide Area Network for various district offices of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies as well as private business entities, NGOs, community-based organisations and women groups operating in rural zones of the country. The government is financing the CICs project through HIPC funds, with support of the country office of the UNDP in Accra.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL), under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, is facilitating the provision of connectivity and infrastructure to the CICs that have been constructed at underserved/un-served and remote areas.

The project is being implemented jointly with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation (MINO), in terms of content development of the CICs nationwide with technical and administrative support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with particular reference to ICT capacity building for information officers throughout the country.

For instance, between May 2007 and April 2008, MINO was able to provide basic ICT capacity building to over 100 of its district information officers, public relations officers and journalists. Some of the areas covered through workshops and seminars include computer literacy, online journalism, content development and information technology management, thanks to the UNDP.

As of December 2007, GIFTEL was also able to provide training for over 300 persons from decentralized organisations in 22 beneficiary districts in the country. These are people trained specifically to manage the CICs. Records also show that Wide Area Network had been completed to extend Internet connectivity to 26 CICs.

Further, 37 CICs are currently said to be operational with the full complement of computers; Local Area Network and Wide Area Network. According to Mr Samuel Mensah, Director of Administration at GIFTEL, a total of 110 computers had been deployed at 22 new CICs in some selected districts in the country.

It is important to clarify the point that more CICs are reported to be at various stages of development, which an ICT technical person will be in a better position to explain or comment on. But it is gratifying to note that slowly, but steadily, Ghana's community information centres project is on course. And all things being equal, as this author was assured, HE President J.A. Kufuor will officially inaugurate some selected CICs nationwide before the end 2008.

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.om

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic Thursday, May 29, 2008

BATTLING WITH 'COMPUTER PHOBIA? 

Saturday, October 16, 2004.

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

A SAMPLE OF OLD COMPUTERS 

A THOUGHT-PROVOKING Ga proverb says: "Ole boni latsaa ntsaa kwua..." Literally translated, ''You don't know how animals sweat because of their furs". Sometimes one may not know the ordeal some people went through in life before they became successful. That is one aspect of the significance of the above-quoted African proverb of the Gas of Ghana.

Computers have come to stay. But if you are one who is seized by convulsion whenever you come face to face with computers, don't worry at all. The secret is that you are not alone in that predicament. Even many people in the home where computers are manufactured do face the same tremor.

That quiver or palpitation when one comes in contact with computers for the first time is what is technically known as "computer phobia".  Another term for it is "cyber phobia". Literally, computer phobia is simply the fear of computers. Experts say it is the anxiety about learning to use computers, or not being able to learn successfully, how to acquire the new skills of computer use.

If I were to offer you a layman's advice, I would kindly request you to sit relaxed; take three deep breaths and tell the computer in front of you: "Hey computer, whether you like it or not, I'm going to use you, ok!" Then, you should visualize yourself using the computer like Bill Gates.

Well! Bill Gates is the Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft Corporation in America. He is one of the richest human beings on this planet of Information and Communication Technology, (lCT). (I will try to write an article about this man to motivate the Ghanaian youth to delve into the IT industry for the digital economic advancement of Ghana and Africa).

 For now, shall we talk of computer phobia? Computer phobia is a technological disease. It can catch everybody, especially adults who want to learn the computer for the first time in their lives. What are some of the causes of computer phobia? Can it be overcome? If yes, then how?

Perhaps, for illustration, it will serve a useful purpose if this writer relates his own experience on how computer phobia tormented him about 10 years ago. In 1993, computer boom had not yet reached Ghana. Thus, when you saw someone at that time using the computer, you admired him or her and held the person in high esteem.

In fact, computer users at the time were considered privileged. And some of them could bluff you like Lucifer. Then, a very good friend of mine who was then working with the Statistical Service Department in Accra offered to teach me in his office how to use the computer after working hours. At that time, the computer did not have mouse. They were using DOS and you had to commit all programmes and commands in memory.

I remember vividly that the first day the Good Samaritan introduced me to the computer key-board, I was not too scared. Maybe it was because I knew how to type on manual typewriter. But after about three days or so of practice, I could not recollect which key I should press to save, retrieve, or print a document. 'Then, I realised that any time I came into contact with the computer, I was nervous, I was panicking and my heart was beating as fast as if I was taking part in the Milo Marathon race in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

 What was happening to me? I could not understand. One day I went to practice and all my ten fingers were vibrating like a rabbit. I started sweating like a pregnant fish in the air-conditioned room oo! (Please, this is not a laughing matter at all . . .).

In fact, I felt so embarrassed. There was another benevolent friend of mine in the office, who noticed my predicament. He asked me: "Why, Mr Abissath, a journalist like you, are you afraid of the computer?" I did not have an answer to his question. The only thing I did was to tell my friend that we should close for the day. And that was the last time I stepped in that office to learn how to use the computer.

Then in 1999 or so, I attended one of the New Year School programmes of the Institute of Adult Education at the University of Ghana Legon, Accra. Professor George Benneh, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, was to be one of the resource persons for the school.

During a discussion forum the Professor narrated his experience with computers to us when he participated in a conference in America. According to him, around 1996 or so, as a Professor, he did not know how to use a computer. Then they went to that big conference of academicians from all over the world. Then they were told that everything they were to do must be done on computers.

And there and then they were shown a computer room where every work must be processed and presented. Those who know Prof. Benneh well will attest that he is a man of great sense of humour. The way he narrated the story was really exciting.

He concluded that it was due to that experience that when he returned to Ghana, he insisted that every student who went to the University of Ghana, Legon, must learn how to use the computer before they left the corridors of the university.

All I am trying to do is to alert fellow Ghanaians in general and civil servants, in particular, that learning to use the computer can be frustrating sometimes. But that is no reason why the skills must not be acquired to increase productivity and effectiveness to move along with the rest of the e-world. If I can use a computer today to process this article myself, then everybody can use it. The object of this piece is to demystify the computer. (This article was written fourteen years ago). 

  

As stated earlier, even in the countries where computers are manufactured, people suffer from computer phobia. For example, the University of California in the US carried out a survey in 2003 and found that "computers were the most frustrating household appliance" in America. The results of the survey indicated that 55 per cent of respondents stated that they were sometimes frustrated and 16 per cent said they were frequently frustrated with computers.

Another American research writer, Larry Rosen, says that up to 85 per cent of Americans are hesitant about or outright resistant to technology. He states that "fear can be a formidable foe"; concluding that "the very act of sitting in front of the computer makes people uncomfortable."

The best way to conquer computer phobia is to use the computer constantly. That is all!

The author works with the Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic in October 2004.

AFRICAN ICT GURUS, WHERE ARE YOU?

Mawutodzi K. Abissath

Daily Graphic October 29, 2004

An African proverb that seeks to motivate and inspire the youth says: "A child who knows how to wash his hands very well eats with Kings."

It is commonplace that the 21st Century belongs to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In other words, it is a century of knowledge. The Internet has even made this knowledge widespread and accessible by anybody who seeks information.

Therefore, if other technological revolutions such as the industrial revolution had bypassed Africa, it will be unpardonable for the continent to allow itself too, to be overtaken by this Information revolution. This ICT revolution is the only one which has reduced the entire globe into a miniature community, commonly referred to as a global village.

If countries like India, Singapore, Malaysia, Finland, all of them developing world are using ICT to march or upstage some of the industrialised nations, then there is no earthly reason why Africa should  not live up to technological expectations in this century.

The purpose of this piece is to identify a single outstanding African ICT figure to be used as a role model for all African youth in the ICT industry. While still looking for a global African ICT expert, this writer has no choice but to present Bill Gates of America for that purpose. (If any reader knows of any African ICT Guru of Bill Gates' status, he or she should not hesitate to contact me: abissath@gmail.com (please note this article was published in 2004 – that is over 13 years ago).

          

There is a French adage which says: "Aux âmes bien nées, la valeur n'attend pas le nombre des années avant de passer". Literally translated," Gifted people do not depend on age before achieving their goals in life."

Bill Gates was born in 1955, precisely on October 28, in America. After secondary education he had admission to the Harvard University as a freshman. Information available on the Internet about him has it that, while at the university, "Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer the MITS Altair."

It is stated that, in his junior year, "Gates left Harvard to devote his energies to Microsoft, a company he had begun in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen.” It seems to me that the man was endowed with some rare creativity and ingenuity.

The report says that Gates was guided by a belief that computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop and in every home one day. So, they, (he and his friend) began to develop software for personal computers.

"Gates's foresight and his vision for personal computing have been central to the success of Microsoft and the software industry." If Gates had been a Ghanaian and left the university without obtaining a certificate, he would have been referred to as "a dropped-out" in our society.

Today Gates is the chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corporation, the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computers.

Microsoft is said to have had revenues to the tune of US$36.84 billion for the first fiscal year ending June 2004. Microsoft employs over 55,000 people in 85 countries throughout the world.

I was fascinated when I learned that in 1999, Gates wrote a book titled:" Business @ the Speed of Thought". This book is said to have shown how computer technology could solve business problems in fundamentally new ways. The book was published in 25 languages and is available in more than 60 countries. This is fantastic!

Earlier in 1995, he wrote a book, "The Road Ahead". Both books were listed on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and Amazon.com. It is inspiring to note that the proceeds of both books were donated to non-profit organisations that supported the use of technology in education and skills development. This is a mark of one of the selfless richest human beings on earth.

"Under Gates’ leadership, Microsoft's mission has been to continually advance and improve software technology, and to make it easier, more cost-effective and more enjoyable for people to use computers." The company is reported to have invested approximately $6.2billion on research and development in the 2005 fiscal year. 

  

Respected reader, just pause for a moment and reflect upon the achievements of this creative soul called Bill Gates and meditate on his contribution to the technological advancement of mankind in this incarnation. (Those who may want to know more about him should visit the website www.microsoft.com.

It is the opinion of this writer that this is the type of information the Ghanaian youth should be encouraged to read on the Internet to inspire and motivate them. It is the conviction of this writer that African ICT experts can rise to the occasion and revolutionise the continent with this technology and dismantle the accursed poverty tormenting African souls once and for all.

 India is one typical developing country that has used ICT to reduce poverty considerably in that country. As a matter of fact, India is an exporter of ICT experts to Europe and other parts of the world. The other day BBC did a wonderful programme on the ICT industry in India.

It was disclosed that almost all the junior secondary school dropped-outs who would have been polishing and shining shoes or selling dog chains in the streets of India were given ICT training. And with those technological skills, they were been employed by American ICT companies in that country.

The American firms find these ICT literate youth of India very useful and cheap labour for their work as compared to what pertains in America. But the Indian workers are happy for the $100.00 dollars they were being paid. Their American employers are also happy to invest in the ICT industry in India. So there is mutual happiness here and there because of ICT. Can't this happen in Africa? If yes, then where are the African ICT Gurus?

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic on October 29, 2004.

 ELECTION 2004: Results To Be Online

Mawutodzi K. Abissath

 Daily Graphic December, 30, 2004

AT this critical hour in Ghana's political history reminds me of the hour our Master Jesus the Christ was about to be crucified on Golgotha. Ghanaians should relax and take inspiration from this Ewe proverb which says: "A prince does not rush out to go and watch the king in the street; after all the king is coming to the royal home."

Thanks to the magic of Information Communication Technology (ICT), the Information Services Department (ISD), in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC) and the International Institute for Communication and Development (lICD), will be publishing this year's election results online.

The simple truth is that besides the traditional way of mounting scoreboards at the Independence Square in Accra and at public places in various districts and regions throughout the country, elections results for this year will be released on GoG Portal (website) live within the premises of the Ministry of Information in Accra. In this respect, all Ghanaians, both home and abroad, who have access to the Internet must simply visit the Ghana Portal, www.ghana.gov.gh  Then, while on the home page of the portal they will see the emblems of all the four political parties contesting the presidential and parliamentary elections beautifully flashing on the page. Just place your cursor underneath the party logos click on "Click Here" and you will be taken straight to the "Elections 2004 Page".

The Ghana Portal is bringing the election results right to them in the comfort of their homes or wherever they might be. They may no longer have to rush out into the harmattan weather to go and watch the results on the scoreboard outside. But it is only those who have access to the Internet who can enjoy this online service for now. Hopefully, one day when the whole of Ghana is interconnected and networking, every home will benefit as well.

It is relevant to inform the general public that by the time this article is published "Elections 2004 Page" would have already been uploaded on the Ghana Portal with some background information about elections in Ghana.

For example, the "Political Parties Code of Conduct 2004", the portraits and profiles of all the four presidential candidates, namely; Dr Edward N.Mahama of the Grand Coalition (GC), the President of Ghana, Mr John A.Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor John E. Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr George O. Aggudey of the Convention People's Party (CPP) are there on the national website.

It is important to explain that the "Elections 2004 Page" is still under review, so some information there will be updated as we go along. The ISD has officially written to all political parties concerned, requesting for specific information, including portraits and profiles of their respective presidential candidates.

Their co-operation is imperative in this regard. Information can be sent through the following e-mail addresses: webmaster@moi.gov.gh and dirisd@ghana.com . Meanwhile, researchers, media practitioners, students and diplomatic missions and political scientists who are in dire need of basic information and some past election results of Ghana will have their frustrations minimised considerably.

Some of these vital pieces of information can be accessed on the Ghana Portal. Other related links such as the Electoral Commission, the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) as well as most Ghanaian media houses that have their own web sites are all linked up to the Ghana Portal for easy access to those who do not know the individual URLs or website addresses of those institutions.

The climax of the "Elections 2004 Page" will start on December 7 when Ghanaians will go to the polls to cast their votes to elect their leaders for the next four years. This writer wishes to add his voice to the call on the electorate to respect the electoral laws of the land and vote in peace, harmony, love, kindness, understanding and tolerance, so that at the end of it all, everybody will  raise their hands  towards the heavens and sing hosanna  alleluia! (Can somebody say AAAA AMEN!!!!!)

On the D-Day, all things being equal, election results can be accessed live on the portal as the Electoral Commission releases them concurrently. As a national website, the Ghana Portal will endeavour to publish online only election results that are confirmed by the Electoral Commission. This is to ensure that any information, especially, election results put on the Portal are authentic, authoritative, accurate, credible and reliable.

This online service by the ISD through the Ghana Portal constitutes the practical manifestation of the E-Government policy of the Government of Ghana to deliver public services to its citizens electronically.

In Singapore, the government's e-government slogan is: "Any service that can be delivered electronically must be delivered electronically" Period! Ghana only established its national website, dubbed GoG Portal www.ghana.gov.gh in April 2003 and therefore, cannot at this moment compare its online services delivery to that of a country like Singapore.

As already stated in a previous article on E-Government, Singapore is sharing a position with the United States of America, second only to Canada in the whole world in terms of online services delivery. But Singapore set off on its E-Government journey 25 years ago. Nevertheless, the successful publication of this year's general election results online will mark the first step of Ghana's E-Government journey of a thousand miles.

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic December, 30, 2004

AVOIDING ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

Daily Graphic December 7, 2004

Do you remember the adage, "If wise men refuse to take part in politics they will be ruled by fools?" Today, Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the Year of our Lord, is a voting day in our beloved country, Ghana. The significance of the day goes beyond the mere term of "voting day". 

It is a day of collective decision-making. A day of the passing of national judgment according to human or man-made laws. Philosophically, it is known that man is operating with two basic laws on this planet of law and order. There is the natural law and there is the man-made law.  We know that natural laws are immutable, that is, they cannot be other than they are.

For example, if God who created the universe has decreed that every 24 hours the sun must rise from the east and set in the west, there is no way that same God will allow the sun to rise from the north and set in the south.

That will amount to inconsistency, isn't it? On the other hands, man-made laws are subject to change or amendment because man is still struggling in the forest of errors. In other words, no human being is perfect and therefore, we can make mistakes. And when mistakes are detected, they must be corrected. In 1992, citizens of Ghana enacted a "master law" that is, the law above all other laws in the country, called the Fourth Republican Constitution.

In article 142 of that supreme law, we set for ourselves that every four years, we will go to the polls to elect leaders who will govern us for a four-year term. That is how the term “kokromoti” power came into being.  “Kokromoti” is the Akan word for the thumb. Thus, in Ghana, every election year, “kokromoti” becomes the most valuable human part of the body.

If you happen to have been born without a “kokromoti”, you better rush to the Suame Magazine in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to get one manufactured for you instantly. For at Suame Magazine, there are many miracle inventors and nothing is impossible.

As I was saying, in that same supreme law of the land, we established one institution known as the Electoral Commission (EC) to be responsible for the formulation of policies, regulations and programmes appropriate for the free and fair conduct of elections in our country.

The purpose of this article is to politely remind ourselves of those electoral regulations, dubbed “Dos and Don’ts” of the election as we leave our homes this morning to go and cast our votes. First, remember the only instrument you are allowed to carry to the polling station is your “kokromoti”. One day you may vote electronically by the magic of ICT.

In a booklet published by the Electoral Commission, titled, Rights & Responsibilities of the Ghanaian Voter - Dos & Don’ts, there are stresses that as a registered voter, you must vote whenever the opportunity presents itself. You must vote only once in any particular election.

After voting, you must give other citizens the chance to vote. And you must take your voter ID card along with you to the polling station. You will be committing an offence if you give or receive bribe. Here, bribery is not only money, be it cash or cheque. Any gift or valuable item you give or receive that serves as an inducement and influences the choice of candidate represents an act of bribery.

Additionally, you will be committing an offence if you take somebody to the nearby kiosk to buy him or her a quarter of “agban”, or “kill me quick” or “akpeteshie” or even if you buy a bottle of Fanta for somebody as an inducement. Again, if you go to the polling station today and threaten somebody, prevent anyone from voting, give someone a dirty slap or instigate an agent to stop someone from voting, you will be committing an offence.

Again, if you attempt to use somebody's Voter ID card to vote, you will be committing an offence simply referred to as impersonation. Remember, that even if the person is living, sick or dead, you cannot use his ID card to vote on his behalf.

Above all, you must not forget that you can vote only once in the same election. If you vote in the morning and later go back in the afternoon to vote for the second time, you will be committing an offence called multiple voting.

There are more of these "Dos & Don'ts" in the Electoral Commission's booklet. You can read them for yourself. Radio and Television stations are telling and showing us every day some of these things. But because print journalism is the first draft of history, I am writing these few points. So, if you are a registered voter and have not yet voted then after reading this article, quickly go and prove your “kokromoti” power in peace, love, harmony, tolerance and understanding. For if you don't know what is good for you, others will tell you what is bad for you.

The author works with the Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

NB:  This article was first published by the Daily Graphic December 7, 2004.