The Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiative, Mr. Kojo Affram Asiedu yesterday, said that as a nation, the country should aspire to achieve world class telecommunication infrastructure as a platform for the development of the nation's IT network enhancement of business, including e-commerce and e-governance.

The minister said this at the launch of Goldenghana .com by a Ghanaian Internet Service Provider, Pamey Computer Systems in Accra yesterday.

He noted that Ghana's success in responding to the global phenomenon in information technology demanded an effective cooperation between the private and public sectors.

He said that government's ability to fund, develop and adapt to new and fast changing technologies would depend on the collective resolve and efforts to remain part of the global village.

"For Ghana to realize its full potential in the information technology industry, it must begin to increase its share of the global market for IT products such as Computers, Internet Services, and other high speed hi-tech communication networks", he noted.

He said the government had demonstrated its commitment to promoting the private sector - led growth through sound economic policies and programmes.

"Over the past three years, we have succeeded in bringing inflation and interest rates down, and the local currency, the cedi, has achieved relative stability. Infrastructure improvement programmes of the government and institutional strengthening are all on course," he added.

He disclosed that Government recognizes the need to upgrade and expand the Information Communication Technology infrastructure available in the country currently.

He disclosed, "We shall therefore continue to pursue the policy of liberalizing the telecommunication sub-sector to ensure healthy competition and a high degree of efficiency among private sector operators."

Minister Asiedu said this would lead to businesses and individuals assessing the range of high technical service telecommunication and information technology, which are capable of providing competitive prices and the degree of efficiency among private sector operators.

"In this way Ghanaian businesses and individuals can access the range of high technical services telecommunication and information technology at competitive prices."

The minister said the success in responding to the global phenomenon in information technology demanded an effective cooperation between the private and public sectors. "As a nation, we should aspire to achieve world class telecommunication infrastructure as a platform for the development of the nation's IT network."

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pamey Computer Systems, Mr. Philip Gamey said there was currently over one thousand Ghanaian - owned domain names, of which more than 90% were not known by more than two hundred people, due to the lack of a gateway, which GoldenGhana.com had come to provide.

He said there was the need for most Ghanaian businesses to restructure their advertising and marketing systems, and give in to current and modern marketing systems to maintain their competitiveness in the operation or a Freezone environment and the need for the Freezone operators to also expand beyond their traditional market.

"The future holds golden packages for Ghanaian businesses through GoldenGhana.com and now is the time for Ghanaian business executives and owners to give in to deployment on this platform and gradually get out of the traditional and narrow way of doing business."

Mr. Gamey said complaints of poor customer service would become a talk of the past as Ghanaian businesses begin to make use of a more reliable, virtual quick customer service, through web-based feedback systems.

The corporate image of businesses in Ghana would also be enhanced as business would continue to operate virtually after the evening.

He announced that GoldenGhana.com would provide a virtual sales center which would operate 24 hours a day. "Customers will be able to interact virtually with business executives, whiles they are fast asleep on this platform."

The 21-year-old CEO said Ghanaian businesses deployment on this platform, would enhance their corporate image, increase customer confidence and also increase profits for sustainability, job security and also serve as a boost for the Ghanaian economy.