Accra, March 20, GNA - The provision of modern telecommunication infrastructure is key to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry and the economy. It is for this reason that efforts are being made to provide broadband infrastructure through the construction of the National Optic fibre Communication backbone to reduce the cost of communication and other related services.

Mr Fredrick Opare-Ansah, Deputy Minister of Communications, said this when he launched the Second Ghana ICT Awards designed to serve as a key catalyst for government and the private sector for accelerated national development.

He said when broadband capacity was sufficiently made available to all parts of the country, it would help to undertake and implement ICT programmes in governance, health, education and agriculture among other sectors to enable it to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas.

Mr Opare-Ansah said the nation had over the years witnessed a significant improvement in the communication sector due to the enabling environment and confidence generated for healthy competition among the industry players.

"By the end of the year, 2007, the total number of access lines in the country stood at 7,990,113 and this translates to a national tele-density of over 30 percent," he added. Mr Opare-Ansah said to enhance quality service delivery, government had carried out extensive work in the ICT sector, which had enabled the country to introduce the award to support and create competition and ensure professionalism in the sector. He said the award would also create greater awareness on the role of ICTs in public service and the development process within the framework of information society, evaluate and recognize standards of excellence for growth and development, and encourage government and institutions to use ICT and motivate stakeholders in effective utilization of ICT.

Ms Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Managing Director, Busy Internet, said the judges would come from seven core areas: the Judiciary, banking, education, media, mobile industry, ICT associations and the telecommunication sector. She enumerated the categories as: top ICT personality of the year, top ISP of the year, top telecom provider, top hardware and software of the year.

Others are top ICT project of the year, top government ICT project of the year, top ICT institution of the year, Internet caf=E9 of the year, foreign entity supporting ICT development in Ghana, best ICT incubate and BPO of the year.

Ms Akofio-Sowah said as ICT had become a daily activity, there was the need for all and sundry to be involved and help in achieving the successes the country was striving for in the industry. Mr Anthony Sarpong, Audit partner, KPMG, called on the judges to ensure transparency in the selection of award winners. The Ghana ICT awards ceremony is slated for May 17, 2008 and the public could access information on ghanaictawards.com.