🚀 go-pugleaf

From the Devmedia netnews site - reply to original sender.  (Interesting
article by the way!)
Don Richardson

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 1 Nov 1996 12:47:09 GMT
From: crw <crw@loop.com>
To: bit-listserv-devmedia@uunet.uu.net
Subject: TELCOM: GHANA takes a GIANT LEAP forward +=> ?



For Immediate Release
---------------------





Hello!

In this moment of national pride, this is a << CALL >> to Ghanaians at home
and abroad, and to friends of Ghana, to stand up, pool your resources (if
only in spirit) and offer your services in launching the Ghana Distance
Learning/Computer Literacy Program.

Something wonder in Ghana has begun...and it must not be abandoned, now.

Please contact Dr. Osei Darkwa, Bill Owen or Edmund Browne if you are
willing to give a hand in the Distance Learning/Computer Literacy Program,
sponsored by the Voluntary Workcamps Association (VOLU - under the direction
of Francis Donkor, General Secretary).


Dr Osei Darkwa <darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu>

Bill Owen <wowen@reston.aau.org>,
   "Bill Owen c/o Kofi ARTHIABAH" <ARTHIAK@aau.org>,
   and "Bill Owen c/o" <Kofi.Arthiabah@accra01.x400.gc.ca>

Dr Edmund Browne <ebrowne@lshtm.ac.uk>


Ghana and Ghanaians are standing at the threshold of a new era where
exploitation of information technology will be the critical step for vastely
improving the Ghanaian economy and the lives of average Ghanaians.

The effort must not stop short.

The following article was passed to me by Ghanaian Dr. Edmund Browne (MD)
who is now finishing his second doctorate's in the UK, and one of whose main
interests is educational networking via the Internet, and developing
computer-assisted medical/nursing/health training programs for students in
rural Ghana, and elsewhere in Africa.

Please contact Edmund directly to exchange ideas on this subject.

I thought this article might be of interest to some, if not already read.

Better days for Ghana are within sight!  (-:


Regards,


Cecil

______________________

Cecil Washington
Ghana Distance Learning
Computer Literacy Program
Voluntary Workcamps Association (VOLU)
Co-Sponsored by Operation Crossraods Africa

crw@loop.com

Tel/FAX: 310-632-1582


========================================================================


...from the 31st October issue of the
Ghanaian Times:


I N T E R S A L   E A R T H   S T A T I O N   L A U N C H E D

An Intelsat Standard Earth station, to serve as an international
gateway for the provision of Internet services to Ghana has been
commission in Accra. The Internet network procured and installed by
Network Computer Systems Limited (NCS), will make available in Ghana
direct connections to the US and other parts of the world.

The Internet technology enables the integration of networks into a
large information system infrastructure to provide services such as
world-wide electronic mail information movement, remote log in access
to data bases. Other services offered are the world-wide web, gopher,
telnet and usenet. The technology can be attained in three ways, namely
through subscription connection through local providers and also
interconnecting various parts of an organization.

Mr. Edward K. Salia, Minister of Transport and Communications who
commissioned the facility yesterday, said the ceremony is a clear
manifestation that the government's telecom reform policy has begun
to yield results. The policy he stated, aims at a rapid expansion and
provision of efficient telecommunication services through limited
competition, as well as the liberalization in the provision of
value-added services such as the Internet and cellular facilities.

Mr. Salia commended NCS the pioneer Internet service provider in the
country, for its vision and commitment to put Ghana on the Internet
map, in spite of the numerous problems it encountered due to the
inadequate telecom infrastructure in the country. "Today Ghana
probably has the biggest hub in sub-Saharan Africa" he said with
pride. The minister expressed the hope that cost-saving and system
flexibility facilitated by the gateway would enable NCS to provide an
affordable Internet service to a lager segment of the population which
a has access to computers, like the educational institutions Public
and Civil Service departments, banks and the business community.

He urged NCS to participate more effectively and competitively in the
multi-million data processing industry that offers massive employment
to young professionals and data entry clerks in countries like Jamaica
and India. Mr. Salia announced that at least three other Internet
service providers have been authorized to commence business in the
country. He said before the end of the year, Ghana Telecom will be
privatized under a virile and experienced investors, while a second
network operator would be authorized to operate.

According to Mr. Salia, it is the significant progress in the
country's telecom policy that encouraged U.S. vice president Al Gore
to launch the Leland Initiative with Ghana in June 1996. Under the
program, the Government of the U.S. through USAID, is offering an
Internet service assistance package to some African countries. Dr. Nii
Quaynor Executive Chairman of NCS, said the facility goes direct to
Virginia U.S. where the core of the Internet business is. He said by
its entry into Internet market, Ghana is ahead of all sub-Saharan
African and is net to only South Africa.

Dr. Quaynor commended all those who in diverse ways contributed to the
success of the project. The NCS has revised its monthly subscription
(from $100 to $200 per month down to just) $45 per month. Kwame Peprah,
Minister of Finance, who chaired the function said the Internet system is
one way hope steps and jumps to the developed countries and therefore
appealed to all to take advantage of this new technology.

========================================================================



For further background reading on the development of telecommunications,
E-mail and the Internet in Africa, you might take a look at Michiel
Hegener's interesting article [77K] posted at http://www.toolnet.org/~hege.

If you don't have access to the WWW, but can receive attached files, I'll be
happy to send it to you...just send me a message with "Africa:
Telecommunications" in the subject.

Regards,

Cecil

cc:

Advisory Board: Ghana Distance Learning/Computer Literacy Program
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsored by the Voluntary Workcamps Association (VOLU)
"Francis Donkor-General Secretary c/o" <enyankah@ncs.com.gh>


Some Board members:

Dr Edmund Browne, MD <ebrowne@lshtm.ac.uk>
Dr Osei Darkwa <darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu>
Bill Owen <wowen@reston.aau.org>,
   "Bill Owen c/o Kofi ARTHIABAH" <ARTHIAK@aau.org>,
   and "Bill Owen c/o" <Kofi.Arthiabah@accra01.x400.gc.ca>
Eric Yankah <enyankah@ncs.com.gh>,
Dr Steve Eskow <EUNSteve@aol.com>,
Dr Nii Quaynor <quaynor@ncs.com.gh>
Max Freund <mfreund@lungusa.org>
"Gideon Hayford Chonia/University Of Zurich/founder of
  GhanaNet/SchoolNet"<k042240@rzu.unizh.ch>,<gideon@osagyefo.ghana.net>
"Kofi ARTHIABAH" <ARTHIAK@aau.org>

(many others are not mentioned)



NOTE: Please contact Bill and Osei if interested in serving pro bono in an
advisory capacity in this effort.

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!