Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said government recognized the important role Information and Communication Technology played in wealth creation and national development.

"In the new emerging economic order, ICT is considered a primary resource, essential to the efficient and effective operation of a country's economy", he said when the ministry received a 1.5 million dollars E-consul and E-administration centre sponsored by the Korean government.

He said an ICT based economy had the advantage of creating quality jobs, promoting rapid economic development and also facilitating global competitiveness.

"The E-Consul and E-administration programmes, no doubt, will improve the administrative machinery of the ministry and eventually contribute to the general socio-economic development of the country", Mr Osei-Adjei added. He said the project would include the computerization and the networking of the various registries of the ministry through to the passport office for effective communication. Mr Osei-Adjei said the system would also enhance efficiency in information retrieval by establishing internal mail exchange, public notices adding, "the project would be extended to Ghana's Mission abroad to help and monitor our missions administrative and revenue management systems. He said in 2006, the Korea government in partnership with Ghana launched the project to import E-government technology into Ghanaian administrative system, "especially to the Ministry in order to enhance its administrative efficiency and good governance". "The preliminary survey work was carried out by Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), followed by the renovation of the data centre, installation of the hardware and network facilities as well as training of some resource persons and some officials in Korea".

Mr. Sang Hak Lee, Korea Ambassador, who made the presentation noted that the donation had come about due to the rapidly increasing development partnership between the two countries, their friendship and co-operation. The Korean government also presented vehicles and other equipment valued at 200,000 dollars to the ministry to enhance service delivery. Mr. Lee praised Ghanaians for the peaceful manner in which the presidential and parliamentary elections were held and urged them to do the same during the run off which is slated for December, 28 2008.