Mr. Ernest Attuquaye Armah, Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Communication, has called on market women to take advantage of the invaluable Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills for research to solve pertinent socio-economic issues in their communities.

He acknowledged that the capability of a country to develop and exploit human resource would bring benefit and opportunity to support socio-economic development.

He made the call at the opening of a three day capacity building seminar organized by the Ministry of Communication for market women across the nation, at the Ghana –India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in Accra, on Wednesday.

The seminar, which was on the theme “Empowering Market women in the use of ICT”, would enable market women to wake up to the opportunities in the use of ICT in empowering them to achieve their rightful place as equals in the world of technology.

“Let me say that this event is a prelude to the World Telecommunication and Information and Society Day WTISD celebration, which is to help create awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other ICT equipment, tools , technologies and techniques can bring to the societies as well as bridge the digital divisions,” he added.

He indicated that, in light of the fact that everyone had a role to play in building a better Ghana through the use of ICT; Ghana’s ICT for accelerated development policy (ICT4AD) "has the objective to facilitate the process of transforming Ghana into an information rich and knowledge- based society and economy".

Ms Dorothy Gordon, Head of the Kofi Annan Center of Excellence and chairperson for the ceremony, said market women were chosen because they were very influential in decision making in Ghana in deciding what happened to their children and community.

She indicated that the seminar would enable them to use their phones to grow their businesses than just making and receiving calls.

Ms. Gordon encouraged the women to enroll their daughters on the formal ICT training at the Centre, explaining that, with ICT they would become “more than Doctors, Teachers or any other profession.”

Participant included representatives from various markets across the nation.**