Accra, June 15, GNA - The French Embassy, on Wednesday inaugurated GHC120, 000.00 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre for the Government Secretarial School in Accra.

The Centre, which has 28 computers with accessories, forms part of the French Support Project for the School, which seeks to provide the infrastructural needs of the institution.

Speaking at inauguration, Mr Alhassan Azong, Minister of State in-charge-of Public Sector Reforms, noted that the Centre would also be used to organise professional and competency - based training programmes for civil servants.

He lauded the role of ICT in the socio-economic development of the country and urged Ghanaians to broaden their horizon on the uses and importance of computers.

Mr Azong said: 93The world has now become a global village and it behoves all to ensure that the acquisition of computer skills become a prime concern regardless of gender, race, age, among others".

He noted that government was embarking on a project dubbed "The Centralised Service Portal" that would enable the public have access to government services on-line.

Mr Azong said the portal, which would be ready by the end of July 2011, would enhance services in departments and agencies that would handle drivers' licenses, company registrations, land documentations and networking services.

Mr Dominic Yaw Osei Manu, Principal of the School, lauded the Embassy for the initiative as it would help in replacing outmoded manual typewriters used as training tools.

"We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Embassy for the refurbishment of our washrooms, provision of air conditioners, curtains and contracting competent persons to man the Centre".

Mr Bernard Borte, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy, extolled the role played by secretarial staff in ensuring that public services were delivered efficiently.

He said since 2008, the Embassy had spent a total of GHC 160,000.00 through various support programmes including the provision of relevant expertise, furniture and training programmes for teachers.