[August 01, 2011] Afigya Kwabre Sets ICT As Priority for Development Tweet Aug 01, 2011 (Ghanaian Chronicle/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Afigya Kwabre District Assembly (AKDA), Kaakyire Oppong Kyekyeku, as part of his ambition to make information accessible to all dwellers in the district, has decided to make Information Technology one of his priority areas. In that vein he has directed that an action plan be drawn for each of the area councils within the district to have an Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) centre. According to Oppong Kyekyeku, ICT is seen as one of the important tools in national development, and for the district to catch up with the rest of the country, particularly, and the world, then ICT should be made a priority. Addressing the members of the AKDA at the assembly's first ordinary meeting of its second session, Oppong Kyekyeku told the members that many organisations were ready to finance the ICT project in the district, and for that matter, funds would be secured for its take off as soon the action plan is completed. According to the DCE, it was his desire to get all dwellers in the area, irrespective of one's educational background, to be able to access information through the internet or computer, adding it is when the people are abreast with information that they can properly position themselves for development. He was of the view that when the people are able to get access to information, they could not only assist with nation building, but also become aware when they are receiving wrong information. Oppong Kyekyeku also told the members that the ICT development in the area councils would also help them (assembly members) and councilors to get day to day information about the activities of the assembly. The DCE further indicated that first cycle institutions in the district had also been included in the ICT plans, and therefore, urged the assembly members who have ICT centres in their areas to remind pupils of its importance. Currently, the district has completed an ultra-modern ICT centre in the district capital, Kodie, and is also embarking on the construction of others in some selected towns, such as Hemang. Physical Projects On physical projects for the two-and-a-half year old district, the DCE told the assembly that as at the time he assumed office some one and half years ago, he inherited four projects from the previous administration, and that all those projects had been completed. He disclosed that his administration had initiated about 48 projects, out of which 28 had been completed and handed over to the beneficiary communities, whilst the other 20 were on-going. Sectors covered under these projects, according to the DCE, include education, road, trade (markets), offices for the assembly, and bungalows for the staff. Investment The DCE hinted that for the district to be sound in its development drive and be able to compete favorably with any other part of the country, the assembly, which has limited resources, has reached out to giant economies like the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and India for partnerships for development. As part of its outreach programme, the assembly has received about 20,000 books from one of their U.K. friends, which have been donated to the Aduman Senior High and Osei Tutu Senior High schools at Tetrem. Oppong Kyekyeku told the members that some of the assembly friends, in two batches, had visited the district, and with the support of the District Investment Committee, were taken round the area for feasibility studies. One of the friends, according to the DCE, came from the US and spent four days in the country before returning home. The other batch of four members was also in the district, where they held intensive training for National Disaster Management Organisation NADMO staff and volunteers in disaster prevention, adding that after the training, the friends presented the equipment used to NADMO as a gift. He disclosed that they were expecting a team of investors in the district by November this year to explore possible areas of investment. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]