Ghana: JOURNALISTS UNDERGO INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT TRAINING COURSE

GHANAIAN JOURNALISTS UNDERGO INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT (ICT4D) TRAINING COURSE

A section of the Ghanaian media have undergone a one day training course on Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) at the Ashanti regional capital kumasi.

The training workshop which was organized by the Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) and PenPlusBytes(International Institute for ICTs Journalism) attracted twenty-five senior journalists from both the print and broadcast media in the northern part of Ghana: Upper east, Upper West, Northern Region, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region.

Welcoming the participants to the function Comfort Ocran an Advisory board member of GINKS said despite the growing importance of ICTs in Ghana, there is a clear lack of understanding among the Ghanaian society of the developmental impact of ICTs. She added that many a times, references are made to ICTs in abstract and technical terms, which, unfortunately, increases the lack of understanding about the term, ICTs. She added that journalists as agents of change have a role to play in demystifying ICTs in Ghana

During the course, participants were taken through various modules comprising: The concept of Development, Uncovering ICTs, Linking ICTs to development and ICT4D journalism. The aim of the workshop was to equip the Ghana media to have a clear understanding of ICT4D and to encourage the reporting of ICT4D in Ghana.

Some participants admitted not having heard of the term ICT4D before, whilst others who had heard about the term had no clear understanding of the issues involved in ICT4D and how to identify ICT4D stories.

Opening the workshop the Ashanti Regional Minster in a speech read on his behalf said the government is seriously committed to the development of a sound and solid ICT infrastructure that will leap-frog Ghana into the new Knowledge Based Economy. He said the establishment of computer centers across the country and the ICT policy framework all attest to the commitment of the government to the growth of ICT in Ghana.
He reminded journalists of the important role they play in the developmental process of the country and said they act as agents of change in the communities. He added that the understanding of developmental issues by the media is critical to the survival of our infant democracy.

He also remarked that ICTs have a developmental impact and these cut across, Agriculture, Health, Education, Governance and even transport. This is however lost in the reporting of ICT stories in Ghana. He was therefore grateful to the Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) for organizing this workshop for journalists in Ghana.

At the end of the workshop, which included practical hands on sessions, participants were of the view that they had a clear understanding of the issues involved in ICT4D and will be in a better position to report on ICT4D in their various communities.

GINKS and Penplusbytes intend to replicate the same training course for Southern Ghana, in next year.