Advance in ICT will improve economy - Otabil

Published in the Daily Graphic on............... pg........

Story: Matilda Attram
The Chancellor of the Central University College (CUC), Rev Dr Mensah Otabil, has indicated that Ghana can improve on its economy by advancing in her Information Communication Technology (ICT), which would enable her compete with other nations.
He said excellence in education, research and information technology were the essential factors that would ensure the development of the nation.
"ICT is a critical tool for development in today's world, and for Ghana to break the chain of dependency, there is the need to shift our economic structure to embrace that of the modern world, " he said.
Rev Otabil was speaking at the launch of the Central Professional Institute (CPI) in Accra.
He said Ghana needed to organise, mobilise and do much research to promote the services delivered in the country through science and information technology.
In his welcoming address, the Vice President of CUC and the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the CPI, Professor Oduro-Afriyie, emphasised that the use of ICT had become the global tool for fast and effective communication by which most countries developed and as such Ghana needed to upgrade hers.
He said CPI was an innovation that would provide hands-on practical training in internationally recognised management and IT programmes that would improve the lives of Ghanaians.
The President of CUC and the chairman for the occasion, Professor Victor Gadzekpo, said the chances of some students to enrol into the university after senior high school was slim, adding that "some end up on the street selling without upgrading their level of education. CPI therefore is ready to find avenues to help put their brains to use".
He said CPI would be an endeavour to create, link and improve building on the technological skills of Ghanaians.
He, therefore, encouraged the public to enrol in the institute to enable the country's realisation of a quality human resource.
Giving an overview of the institute, the Director of Business Development Centre of the CPI, Mr Yaw Sarpong, said the institute, which was expected to open branches in Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale, was established in August this year, and that 104 students had already passed out, after pursuing management studies for three months.