Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - The Ninth West Africa Information Technology Exhibition and Conference (AITEC 2005) was on Wednesday launched in Accra.

The exhibition on the theme: "Business Process Re-Engineering with ICT" is slated for September 21 to 23 and would attract both local and international exhibitors from the Information Technology industry. The conference on the other hand aims at offering participants education in various technology applications to be replicated in their respective organisations that would make them competitive.

Speakers would discuss topics such as ICT Procurement Management and Contractual Issues, E-governance, ICT Architecture, Outsourcing, Best Practice in ICT Standards and Leadership, Business and ICT Alignment.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Communications underscored the importance of ICT saying "it is a relevant tool to improve the delivery of quality education, health care and make government services more accessible."

He said the creation of a trustworthy, transparent and non-discriminatory regulatory and policy environment would stimulate private sector investment and favour growth of the digital economy. "The moment has arrived when the technology applications can be introduced in our various organisations to enable us realise the full benefits of ICT."

Mr Kan-Dapaah in an address read on his behalf indicated that infrastructure development programme over the years had led to a significant improvement of telephone service in the country had exceeded 2,000,000 access lines and this had given a Tele-density of about 10%, almost 10 times.

Mr Kan-Dapaah acknowledged the contribution of AITEC to technology and knowledge improvement, innovation and business partnership in Africa as well as capacity building in business development.

Mr Tim Gros, General Manager, AITEC Ghana, said Ghana had not only become an ICT tourist destination in the sub-region and beyond but also an ICT investment destination.

He observed that the benefit of ICT in rapid socio-economic development of doing business under low-tech condition was no longer an option.

Mr Gros, however, urged government and development partners to tie their developmental programmes to ICT to ensure accelerated economic growth.