Accra, March 17, GNA- The Ministry of Communications is embarking on a monitoring exercise, to ensure the participation of women in the Information Communication Technology (ICT), in order to enhance the National ICT programme, Mr Fredrick Opare-Ansah, Deputy Minister of Communication has said.

He pointed out that Ghana's early attainment of the Millennium Development Goals to a large extent depend on the education and economic empowerment of the female components of the population. Mr Opare - Ansah was speaking at the first ICT breakfast meeting for girls organised by The Ghanaian High-tech Woman, a non governmental organisation that promotes and encourage young ladies to recognize technology as a means to advancing their personal development. The breakfast meeting brought together women who had achieved high feats in the ICT industry in order to share their experiences with teenagers between 13 and 19.

The Deputy Minister noted that the ICT industry was focused on the active participation of women and this is evident in the management of communication centres nationwide.

Mr Opare- Ansah said the ICT industry was not discriminatory of gender and it only required the commitment and seriousness of the youth to take advantage of it and enhance their personal development. "We should bear in mind that the ICT industry provides high-paying jobs and support life-long skill acquisition that provides social liberation and an avenue for self -actualization." He called for the support of individuals and organisations to assist the Ghanaian High - tech Woman programmes with financial aid, donation of equipment and other logistic support. Mrs Ama Pomaa Andoh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghanaian High-tech Woman said the percentage of girls venturing to ICT was far lower than that of boys hence the introduction of the programme to reverse the situation.

"We need to think less of female students as precious Victorian-era dolls and more as competent citizens who can compute, solder and take responsibility for their own learning and living," she said. Mrs Andoh said currently there were many successful ICT career women who entered the industry by chance and pointed out that there was the need to conscientise young ladies to be interested in the ICT industry.

"It would be a shame if we missed the chance to revolutionalise and simply be ignorant about ICT potentials for women," she said. Mrs Eva Lokko, Former Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Nana Yaa Appiah, CEO of Equity Pharmacy, Efia Opare, are some of the ladies who are into ICT.

Ms Jumoke Omole, at the Logical Technologies Department at Busy Internet who shared her experience in ICT said career in the sector made things more flexible for women especially nursing mothers. "Possibilities and opportunities in the ICT industry is enormous for women," she said.