Kumasi, July 05, GNA - Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, on Thursday stressed the need to develop and implement a comprehensive integrated Information Communication Technology (ICT) policies and strategies to move the nation forward to attain a middle income status.

He said the challenge facing the nation was the formulation and implementation of appropriate ICT policies that would lead the nation to accelerate socio-economic development.

Mr Assibey-Antwi made the call when launching Ghana Telecom (GT) BroadBand4U Internet service in Kumasi.

He said the world was currently experiencing an unprecedented growth in information and socio-economic activities because of ICT and commended management of GT for introducing the product. Mr Assibey-Antwi said GT had been a major contributor to the development of ICT in the country and assisted in the implementation of Government's policy to provide ICT to most Ghanaians to promote rapid socio-economic development.

He said Government in the pursuance to accelerate ICT policies to promote the knowledge and use of ICT, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the management of Microsoft to provide ICT education and training in the country.

Mr Assibey-Antwi appealed to the management of GT to take advantage of the establishment of community ICT centres in some districts to extend its services to rural areas.

Mr Joseph Wereko, General Manager in-charge of Marketing and Research of GT, said the Broadband4U provided global and competitive opportunities in business and provided the cheapest and affordable communication system in the country. He said the product also served as a research tool for students, academia and designed to empower children to do their homework independently.

Major Don Chebe (rtd), Corporate Communications and CARE4U Manager, said the product was one of the most significant achievements of GT and significant to the people of Ghana.

He said while about 60 per cent of Europeans used Broadband only one per cent of Ghanaians had access to it. Major Chebe said the company would continue to expand and extend the broadband services to most regional and district capitals to enable majority of Ghanaians have easy access to Internet services. 05 July 07