The Minister for Communications and Technology (MoCT), Felix Owusu Agyapong, on Thursday said government acknowledged that only an information and knowledge-based economy would stand the test of time.

"We are, therefore, committed to the process of putting the necessary policies, programmes and plans that will move our pre-dominantly agriculture-based economy into a predominantly information and knowledge based economy."

Mr. Owusu-Adjapong said this at a press conference to launch the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy and Plan Development Committee.

He said government had identified five critical areas for strategic intervention, which were: "Developing a core ICT network infrastructure, building a critical mass of knowledge and increasing technical skills among users and strengthening local capabilities.

It is also aimed at supporting a transparent and inclusive policy process and improving access to financial capital.

He said another area would be the provision of demand-driven information, which was relevant to the needs and conditions experienced by the local people.

The eight-member committee, which is being chaired by Professor Clement Dzidonu, an international ICT expert, would lay out the road map on ICT policy and the corresponding plan for the country.

Mr. Owusu-Agyapong said the Committee's programme was in three phases and "Phase one would concentrate on the development of an integrated ICT-led Socio-economic development framework for the country."

The second phase would be devoted to the development of the policy, which would provide details of the government's policy commitments in relation to what needs to be done towards the realisation of the vision for the country.

He said the Committee might complete the policy process by December 2002 when a draft policy would be submitted to Cabinet and, thereafter, to Parliament.

"The Third Phase, which will be a six-month consultative process involving all key stakeholders, will concentrate on the development of the plan. "This will produce the first ICT plan for Ghana, guided by government's policy commitments and we envisage that this would be ready for consideration by Cabinet by June 2003."

Other members of the committee are Dr Sam Somuah, Office of the President, Mr. Kwame Agati, a lawyer, Mr. Abdulai Mohammed-Sani, National Banking College, and Mrs. Marian Tackie, National Council on Women and Development.

The rest are; Mr. Crosby Tekyi-Mills, Mr. Ofosu Adarkwa, MoCT and Mr. Issah Yahaya, Secretary all of MoCT.