Accra, Sept.20, GNA - Dr. Sam Somuah, Director-General of Ghana Information Communications Technology Directorate (GICTED), on Saturday called for the use of software to modify the structures of the economy in order to reduce government expenditure.

"Using software and Information Communication Technology (ICT) would facilitate the exchange and sharing of information by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and reduce the cost of running government.

Dr. Somuah was speaking at a forum organized by the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in IT (AITI-KACE) and the Accra Linux User Group to mark the "Software Freedom Day 2008" which fell on September 20. It was on the theme" Free Linux Open Source Software (FLOSS) and its potential for national development" Dr. Somuah said the exchange and sharing of information through the use of software would promote efficiency, transparency and an increase in government revenue. "Over the last 50 years we have been running an agricultural based economy and it is about time we use ICT to transform the economy of this country."

"Revenue earned from the sale of cocoa is far less than what an IT company would earn within a short period and the use of software would reduce the dependence on foreign donors for aid," he said. He said the E-government inter-opera ability framework Programme which would be introduced would allow MDAs to use the software of their choice in their operations but would have to meet the standards set by GICTED.

"MDA's would work on agreed standards and collaborate to promote efficiency leading to the transformation of the public sector. Using software, MDAs could work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week "He said. Dr. Somuah said the use of software would enable MDAs to secure their data and other essential details of their operations. Miss Dorothy Gordon, Director General of AITI-KACE said the use of a Free Open Software (FOSS) would afford entrepreneurs the opportunity to do business on a level playing field.

"With the Free Open Software you can build upon solutions that have been downloaded, build upon it and sell to make wealth. Use ICT to build up skills and create wealth and you would not baby-sit someone's technology," she said.

Miss Gordon called for the creation of awareness on opportunities that could be utilized to promote national development. Mr. Frederick Yeboah, Coordinator of the Software Freedom Day, said advantages which would be derived from the use of FOSS include minimal expenditure on proprietary licensing, ICT innovation and creativity with the necessary tools, and creation of business opportunities for national development.